Gov. Bob Riley has awarded two grants totaling $278,000 to Snead State Community College to strengthen and expand traffic safety programs in five northeast Alabama counties. The college will distribute the funds to law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment and to aggressively education motorists.

“The combination of enforcement and education reduces collisions and saves lives,” Riley said. “I am pleased to support the continued efforts of Snead State and law enforcement officers to make Alabama’s highways safer.”

The funds will help local officials analyze data and develop safety plans based on crash statistics. Agencies will purchase modern and reliable equipment to properly conduct traffic checkpoints at appropriate sites.

Safety plans also will include community education programs that will address the dangers of drinking and driving, speeding and other issues that cause vehicle crashed. Officials also expect to boost seatbelt and child restraint usage in the region that includes Cherokee, Dekalb, Etowah, Jackson and Marshall counties.

Riley has designated the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to administer the grants. ADECA director Jim Harrison notified Devin Stephenson, Snead State president, that the grants had been approved