SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department was recognized as the top agency in the state for its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and enforcement of distracted driving laws.
The accolades were handed down at the 19th Annual Governor's Challenge Awards last week.
"This award recognizes the efforts of the men and women of the Snellville Police Department who take the role of protecting our city seriously," Chief Roy Whitehead said. "It was a team effort that makes me proud to work with these officers every day."
SPD has been recognized for its efforts to reduce injury and fatality traffic accidents 12 of the 19 years that the Governor's Challenge has taken place.
More than 50 agencies from across Georgia entered the 2018 Governor's Challenge, which covers the 2017 calendar year.
Statewide, approximately 20 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver. In Snellville, only 5 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver, a testament to the work Snellville officers do to curb this dangerous driving behavior.
Officers can often be found speaking about the dangers of distracted driving to local school and civic groups, the Citizen's Police Academy and at city events such as Public Safety Night. The department also utilizes all of its social media platforms to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
The Governor's Office of Highway Safety hosts the annual Governor's Challenge Awards banquet to recognize statewide law enforcement agencies in seven different categories based on department size, as well as in several other specialty categories, according to the GOHS website. The awards program was designed to highlight outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education. They recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.