Sheriff Michael E. Heldman announced the Ohio Department of Public Safety's (ODPS) Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO) awarded $29,363 in federal traffic safety funding to Hancock County Sheriff's Office for federal fiscal year 2011.

"These funds are critical to ensuring that we are doing everything possible to keep our community safe," said Sheriff Heldman "Based on crash data, we have identified State Routes 12, 37 and 568 and County Roads 9, 18, 220 and 313 as a priority for Hancock County and are pleased to work with our partners at the state level to address this safety issue."

The funds are passed through OTSO from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to support the efforts of safety partners statewide and focus on traffic safety priority areas such as restraint use, impaired driving, motorcycle safety and youthful drivers.

In the past three years, Ohio's roadway fatalities have decreased to near record lows. There were 1,022 fatalities on Ohio roads in 2009, down from 1,191 fatalities in 2008, down from 1,257 in 2007 and 1,239 in 2006. Hancock County Sheriff's Office is working to continue that trend in Hancock County.

Competitive grant proposals are accepted and reviewed by OTSO, with funds awarded to projects that will have the greatest impact on reducing fatal crashes or significantly improving traffic safety systems.

For more information about the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and statewide efforts to improve safety on Ohio's roadways, log on to http://ohiohighwaysafetyoffice.ohio.gov/.