Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Awards $233,971.59 Grant to Shepherd Center

Rural road

Shepherd Center is pleased to announce it has received a $233,971.59 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). For the third consecutive year, Shepherd Center will continue utilizing the Safe System Approach, with its Rural Roads Seatbelt Safety Project. The grant year began on Oct.1, 2025, and will end on Sept. 30, 2026. 

The grant will help finance increasing seat belt compliance using a social norming campaign targeting rural Georgians. 
 

“Although seat belts are the best way to protect yourself in the event of a crash and have been well-documented to save lives and reduce injuries, seatbelt compliance continues to be a challenge,” said Emma Harrington, director of injury prevention at Shepherd Center. 
 

In the project’s second year, Harrington continued working on a renewed media push as well as several community events geared toward seat belt safety. 
 

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our partners continue to implement programs designed to save lives and promote safe driving behaviors,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. 
 

Shepherd Center and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety ask that drivers do their part to make the roads safer. 
 

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety's mission is to educate the public on safe driving behaviors and implement highway safety campaigns and programs designed to reduce crashes and eliminate fatalities and injuries on Georgia roads. For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org.