MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Merced Police Department announced Thursday they have been awarded over $130,000 to increase road safety. The grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety, and the police department says the funds will support their ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on the road. “This funding will strengthen our commitment to public safety in our community,” Sergeant Nate McKinnon said. “We will be able to increase our efforts in making our roads safer for everyone and focus on critical areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.” Some of the programs and resources the funding will provide, according to officials, include: DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers. High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law. Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk. Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop signs and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes. Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). The grant program is expected to run through September 2025.