Cornell University Police has received three grants totaling $15,525 that will be used to enhance the department's traffic safety and enforcement efforts.

Two grants were awarded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. A $5,682 grant will be used for participation in the statewide "Buckle Up New York!" campaign, that has a goal of increasing seat belt usage in an effort to reduce serious injuries and deaths in traffic crashes. A second grant for $4,843 supports Cornell Police participation in the state's "Selective Traffic Enforcement" program to reduce aggressive driving, speeding and impaired driving-related crashes.

A $5,000 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grant was awarded to Cornell Police through the College and University Police section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. It was one of only 10 NHTSA grants awarded to universities nationwide.

"Our primary goal in traffic safety is to educate the Cornell community," said William Boice, chief of Cornell Police. "We want people to feel safe on the roads and streets of the Cornell campus, whatever means of transportation they choose. These funds will be used not only to enhance our enforcement efforts and officer safety, but also in traffic safety education programs."

Boice cited the efforts of Sgt. Charles Howard, coordinator of traffic enforcement activities for Cornell Police, in obtaining the grants.