GOVERNOR TIM KAINE HAS ANNOUNCED 13-MILLION DOLLARS IN SAFETY GRANTS ARE COMING TO VARIOUS LOCAL, STATE, AND NON-PROFIT PROGRAMS IN VIRGINIA LOCALITIES THAT SUPPORT TRANSPORTATION SAFETY. THE MAINLY FEDERALLY-FUNDED GRANTS INCLUDE 2.6 MILLION DOLLARS IN LOCAL MATCHING FUNDS. LEE AND WISE COUNTIES, THE CITY OF NORTON, AND SEVERAL TOWNS IN LEE, WISE, AND SCOTT COUNTIES, WILL BE GETTING MORE THAN 150-THOUSAND DOLLARS. OTHER LOCALITIES TO RECEIVE THE FUNDING INCLUDE THE TOWN OF APPALACHIA, COEBURN, GATE CITY, PENNINGTON GAP, POUND, WEBER CITY, AND WISE. WITH VIRGINIA CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC FATALITIES, GOVERNOR KAINE SAID THESE PROGRAMS WILL HELP ADDRESS THE GOAL OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND INJURIES DUE TO TRAFFFIC CRASHES IN THE COMMONWEALTH. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNOR, THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE USE OF SAFETY BELTS AND CHILD SAFETY BELTS AS WELL AS PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THE RISKS FOR BOTH TEEN AND OLDER DRIVERS IN VIRGINA.