R.I. receives $1.5M for road safety measures

RHODE ISLAND will receive more than $1.48 million in federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) funding to improve traffic safety and road conditions, according to U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed. / PBN FILE PHOTO
RHODE ISLAND will receive more than $1.48 million in federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) funding to improve traffic safety and road conditions, according to U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed. / PBN FILE PHOTO

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island will receive more than $1.48 million in federal Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (Map-21) funding to improve traffic safety and road conditions, according to U.S. Sen. Jack F. Reed.

The funds are administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support traffic and vehicle safety programs throughout the state.

“These federal funds will help support critical traffic safety programs and enhance safety conditions for Rhode Island drivers and pedestrians. I will continue working to end partisan gridlock in Congress and provide the resources our communities need to ensure the safety of our roads and repair infrastructure,” Reed said in a statement. “This is a smart investment that will help the state continue to support and enhance highway safety policies and programs that help reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.”

According to newly released statistics from the R.I. Attorney General’s office, the number of driving-related fatalities in Rhode Island decreased 20 percent last year, to the lowest number in a decade.
A total of 52 driving-related fatalities were reported in 2014 compared with 65 in 2013. A high of 104 fatalities occurred in 2003.

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The state Department of Transportation’s Office on Highway Safety may also support education and prevention efforts in traffic safety priority areas such as: seat belt use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and educating young drivers.

The following programs received funding: highway safety, $816,601; impaired driving countermeasures, $511,378; state traffic safety information systems, $142,520; and motorcyclist safety, $16,113.

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