By Jim Silva
Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.)
MERCED, Calif. — The Merced Police Department on Monday announced that it has received nearly $100,000 to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on area roadways.
The $98,900 grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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“We are grateful to receive this grant that will strengthen our traffic enforcement efforts and improve road safety,” Merced Police Department Sgt. Jacob Fister said in a news release posted on Facebook. “Through a combination of education and enforcement efforts, our goal is to reduce dangerous driving behaviors, prevent crashes, and make our roads safer for everyone.”
According to the news release, the money will go to:
- DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
- High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers using cell phones.
- Enforcement operations for drivers who put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
- Enforcement operations focused on top driving violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes. * Community presentations on traffic safety.
- Officer training and/or recertification to detect and evaluate suspected impaired drivers.
The grant program runs through Sept. 30, 2027, the news release said.
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