$240K in grant funding to improve highway safety in Wicomico County
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – “Our goal is to get down to zero deaths on the highway throughout the state. That’s what we aim to do with these funds,” Captain Wiersberg said.
$240,000 in grant funding is headed to Wicomico County for highway safety. It’s part of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Transportation Program.
MDOT recently released a draft of their Consolidated Transportation Program. That stretches over a span of six years (FY 2024-2029) and details how billions of dollars will be invested to keep the state’s roads safe. “We really, really, really try to focus on DUI’s and inattentive driving. Of course, speeding is dangerous as well,” Lt. Guard said.
Lieutenant Blaine Guard with the Fruitland Police Department said the $6,000 they’re receiving will go towards overtime assignments. “For Fruitland, it allows us to put one officer on the road during certain waves that they have during the year that coordinate with holidays and things like that,” Lt. Guard said. “If we have him on a DUI overtime assignment, that’s his main focus for the evening.”
The $12,000 headed to the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office will also support overtime. Captain Richard Wiersberg said the money is crucial as they’re down more than 10 deputies currently. “Just as all law enforcement agencies are we are short staffed as well. This will help us supplement that staffing by having deputies out on overtime to help protect our roadways,” Captain Wiersberg said.
Lt. Guard said no enforcement leads to no change in behavior adding initiatives like this are not only meant to keep our local road safe but also save lives. “My officers look at it as that could be their family or your family in the car potentially getting hit. So, they take it personal,” he said.
Both departments tell us this isn’t their first time receiving this funding and that it’s helped decrease road violations before.
We’re also told that funding can go towards the purchase of equipment. Fruitland police bought a laser device to aid with speed detection.
