Lehigh County Commissioners introduced a bill that would approve a professional services agreement with Lehigh Valley Health Network for a highway safety program.

The program would be for both Lehigh and Northampton counties and will cost around $95,000; no county funds are involved.  A grant for the program has been awarded to LVHN and Lehigh County. 

The program will be deemed a success if there is an eight percent reduction in impaired driving crashes in each county by Sept 30, 2012, nine percent increase in seatbelt usage, improved bicycle safety, 15 percent decrease in pedestrian injuries and a 20 percent  decrease involving young/distracted drivers.

“In addition to enforcement, this also is a program of education, sponsored by the hospital and sponsored by the counties to better educate people to avoid the crashes and impairments in the first place,” stated Commissioner Daniel McCarthy.

Some wanted more information.

“I would like to see the pervious evidence of results, since this program has been run by other entities,” said Commissioner Scott Ott.

“Anything that we can do as a region to help reduce the fatality is important,” stated Cindy Feinberg, the county's Director of Community & Economic Development.

The bill is scheduled for a vote at the next commissioner meeting on March 14.

Also Wednesday, Lehigh County Commissioners approved a resolution approving a professional services agreement with Health Network Laboratories and Lehigh County.

The contract will allow Health Network Labs to conduct analysis of blood for blood alcohol content or drug content for the Lehigh County DUI Center and the Lehigh County probation and parole departments.

“All of the costs of this contract are paid for by those persons who have been required to take these tests,” stated Commissioner Vic Mazziotti. “There is no direct cost to the county.”

The contract with Health Network Labs expires December 31, 2013.