The Marblehead Police Department received a $40,000 grant this year for traffic safety programs from the state’s Municipal Road Safety Grant Program, Police Chief Dennis King told the Current.
The department plans to spend the money on new radar and speed-enforcement equipment, pole-mounted speed feedback signs, a traffic data recorder and a preliminary breath test machine for checking for impaired-driving enforcement.
“It’s not only about enforcement, but also about educating and community engagement around topics such as bike safety,” said King.
Funds will also go toward traffic safety education like a bike safety rodeo, along with additional patrols focused on speeding, distracted and impaired driving.
King said the grant — which he reported represents a 15% increase over last year — shows the department’s commitment to improving traffic safety through more than just enforcement.
The state grant program is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. This year it provided over $5.4 million in federal funds to local police departments for road safety projects focused on enforcement and education.
“Aggressive and dangerous driving are a threat to every road user. Providing local law enforcement agencies with the resources necessary to enforce traffic laws and educate members of their communities about distracted, impaired and aggressive driving is vital to ensuring the public’s safety,” Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “These grants allow towns and cities to approach traffic safety initiatives in ways that make the most sense for the community’s needs.”
