Governor Bredesen Announces $14.9 Million Awarded in Traffic Safety Grants

Nashville, Tennessee – Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the Tennessee Department of Transportation Governor’s Highway Safety Office (GHSO) awarded $14.9 million in federal traffic safety grants to 90 organizations this fall. The grant recipients are law enforcement agencies and judicial districts across the state committed to the goal of decreasing fatalities on Tennessee highways.

“These grants will make a significant difference in the day to day safety of Tennesseans,” said Bredesen. “I am pleased to recognize the efforts of these 90 organizations and to provide financial support to efforts that make our state a safer place in which to live and drive.”

The grants will fund programs which range from innovative efforts targeting repeat DUI offenders to child passenger safety education programs and teen occupant protection campaigns. The grants range in amount from almost $5,000 to $1,000,000. All grants have a one year funding period beginning October 1, 2004 and ending September 30, 2005.

Among the grants awarded were 15 small community law enforcement grants. These grants in the amount of $10,000 each will provide assistance to under-served law enforcement agencies for the purchase of new equipment and technology and will support additional manpower to more effectively serve their communities.

“While we were not able to fund every proposal submitted, I am proud that we have increased the number of grants over last year from 66 to 90,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “This increase will translate into lives saved through education, enforcement and adjudication.”

Sixteen judicial districts across the state were awarded special DUI prosecutor grants. That comprehensive pilot program funds a prosecutor and an administrative DUI coordinator to supplement the district’s legal staff and focus solely on impaired driving cases. Included in the program is the development of a DUI tracking log to detect repeat offenders and evaluate the district’s current apprehension and prosecution process.

“The money funding the grants is issued to TDOT by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),” said Chuck Taylor, Director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Office. “NHTSA is the governmental entity established by the United States Department of Transportation to administer monies appropriated by Congress.”

A list of all grant recipients is attached. The Governor’s Highway Safety Office next grant application submission period will begin in February 2005. For more information, call 615-741-2589.