R.I. Dept. of Transportation Getting Grant to Combat Distracted Driving

Rhode Island is one of seven states receiving a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to help reduce distracted driving.

The state Department of Transportation will use the $459,000 grant to develop a distracted driving prevention program. The program will include education, community outreach and increased funding for enforcement and is expected to launch in October.

The grant is part of the safety administration’s National Priority Safety Program.

Rhode Island has launched other efforts to reduce distracted driving, including the “It Can Wait” campaign. That initiative educates high school students on the dangers and consequences of texting while driving.

The General Assembly also this year passed legislation adding a driver’s license suspension to the list of potential penalties for those caught texting while driving.