Handing out child seats part of road safety program

The state will spend $775,800 to support four programs designed to make driving on Georgia roads safer, officials said.

The safety programs include distributing child-safety seats to needy families, reducing risks on rural roads, and developing strategies to reduce crash injuries to older drivers.

The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety provided the money in a grant to the state Department of Human Resources.

> The Child Occupant Safety Program will receive $474,900. It provides education and child-safety seats to income-eligible families.

> The Rural Roads Initiative will receive $130,900 to address risks such as poor signage and striping on rural and non-interstate roads in northeast and southeast Georgia. The program also studies speeding in these areas.

> The Older Driver Safety Program will receive $110,000. It seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities among older drivers, balancing the needs of older motorists with the safety of other drivers.

> The Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System will receive $60,000 to analyze crashes, injuries and driver behavior to better understand and help prevent crash injuries.