The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety has awarded $696,781 to the Arizona Department of Transportation for a variety of efforts related to DUI and distracted driving enforcement, training and other areas.

The grants will help with overtime costs for increased enforcement patrols and  equipment purchases related to vehicle collision investigations, according to a DPS release.

“Speed, impaired driving, distracted driving and failure to use a seat belt continue to be the leading causes of serious injuries and fatal collisions,” Lt. Col. Deston Coleman Jr. said.

Coleman, assistant director of the Highway Patrol Division, added that “state troopers will be able to increase enforcement and make the roadways safer for the motoring public.”

GOHS has allocated grant funds in support of these programs:

• $51,200 for seat belt enforcement details.
• $150,000 for DUI enforcement.
• $40,000 for distracted driving enforcement.
• $150,000 for STEP/speed enforcement.
• $40,000 for the Street Racing Task Force.
• $75,000 in overtime funding for the State Crime Lab.
• $20,000 for dispatch support for DUI and street racing enforcement.
• $90,000 training, materials and supplies for drug recognition experts.
• $80,581 for criminal collision investigation.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.