The Red Bank Police Department has been awarded the first Distracted Driving Program Grant from the Tennessee Highway Safety Office for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The THSO awarded $15,000 to the agency to assist them in addressing the texting and driving problem within the community.
Sgt. Rusty Aalberg said, “The agency will be partnering with the Red Bank Chapter of the Chamber of Commerce to provide special anti-distracted driving educational programs at Red Bank High School throughout the year. We will be utilizing additional funding to implement other anti-distracted driving programs to continue our agency’s ongoing commitment of keep our roadways safe and bringing public awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.”
As traffic safety data has been updated for the last few years, officials reported distracted driving has become a dangerous measure with some drivers and a common cause of a growing number of traffic crashes. The Red Bank Police Department will be using various law enforcement measures, but more importantly, educating drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.
The grant funding will be for overtime and equipment purchases which will be used for educational and enforcement efforts. Anyone interested in distracted driving education through presentations or literature should contact Sgt. Rusty Aalberg at 875-0167.