In an effort to curb dangerous driving habits and promote safety on Alabama's roads, Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded over $370,000 in grants to programs targeting young drivers across the state.

The funding, which comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is aimed at reducing incidents of distracted, impaired and aggressive driving, particularly among those under 25.

A significant portion of the funding — just over $172,000 — was awarded to Students Against Destructive Decisions Inc. (SADD) for its Addressing Mobility Safety with Alabama Teens Program. This initiative focuses on educating young drivers about critical safety issues, including aggressive driving, distracted or impaired driving, and the importance of occupant protection. The program will also highlight the dangers faced by vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and individuals using micro-mobility devices like bicycles and scooters.

"Keeping Alabama's roadways safe is critical, and it starts with instilling in young drivers the importance of making good decisions and always paying attention to the road while driving," Ivey said in a news release. "I commend SADD for continuing to find new ways to engage young people on the topic of traffic safety."

In addition to the SADD program, Gov. Ivey has allocated just over $200,000 to the Alabama Department of Public Health for a campaign aimed at reducing the number of children killed in distracted driving incidents by 10%. This campaign will work with schools and public agencies statewide to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving and conduct training sessions to help reduce these preventable tragedies.

"A loss of focus on the road can have devastating and deadly consequences," Ivey said. "It is crucial to ensure current and future drivers understand how dangerous it is to drive distracted, and this program of the Department of Public Health will do just that."

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) is administering both grants. Kenneth Boswell, ADECA's director, emphasized the importance of these public education programs in changing behaviors that create risks on the road.

"Public education programs like this one play an important role in changing behaviors that create risks on our state's roads," Boswell said. "I join Gov. Ivey in support of this program and other efforts to steer young drivers toward wise decisions."

ADECA oversees a broad range of programs supporting law enforcement, victim assistance, economic development and public safety. These grants are part of Alabama's ongoing commitment to making its roads safer for all drivers and pedestrians, with a particular focus on educating young people about the dangers of distracted driving.