Clemmons is one of 12 North Carolina communities that will soon receive a total of more than $8 million in federal grants to help reduce traffic deaths.

Twelve grants totaling $8.15 million will be distributed to a dozen cities, towns and regional planning organizations, thanks to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All Program.

“Preventing deaths on North Carolina roads is our top priority,” state Transportation Secretary Eric Boyette said. “We’re grateful anytime our federal partners can assist with funding to help protect our citizens.”

Grants will go to Clemmons, Charlotte, Durham, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Kannapolis, Raleigh, Boiling Springs, Knightdale, Leland, the Land of Sky Regional Council, and Triangle J Council of Governments.

Eleven communities will develop new plans for reducing traffic fatalities by making road designs safer, educating people about traffic safety and enacting safety-focused policies. Charlotte’s grant will enable it to implement its existing plan.

The plans will help reinforce the N.C. Vision Zero efforts that are already underway in some grant recipient’s communities. N.C. Vision Zero aims to eliminate road deaths and injuries using data-driven strategies.

“Road fatalities are a big problem in North Carolina and nationwide,” said Mark Ezzell, director of the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program. “These grants will help communities solve this crisis by giving local community groups the resources they need to make roads safer for all users.”