Drivers in the northern panhandle of West Virginia may soon see an increase in citations, patrols and protection.

Region 4 of the Northern Regional Highway Safety Office represents six counties -- from Hancock to Tyler -- and has applied for a West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program grant. The grant is funded form the Department of Motor Vehicles, and if Region 4 gets it, the money would affect programs in all six counties.

"The West Virginia Governor's Highway Safety Program is a significant resource for this community for enforcement issues, training and even equipment,"  Officer Neil Fowkes, the highway safety coordinator For Region 4, said.

If awarded, the grant money would go to enforcement of traffic laws, curbing speeding, traffic signals and to child safety programs, like making sure car seats properly installed. There is also money allotted to improve safety for students at bus stops and in school zones.

"One of the things we'd do (is) we'd be watching the school zones a little bit more. We'd have increased enforcement in the school zones. We'd also follow the school buses and make sure the cars are stopping for the buses as well," Fowkes said.

In addition, with the new texting and driving laws in West Virginia, distracted driving programs would receive more money and more focus from police.

"We still do see a lot of people texting, and driving and we are writing citations for it. This would give us an opportunity to increase our enforcement and also raise awareness," Fowkes said.

With the added funding, departments wouldn't just increase patrols and citations, but they would do so with better equipment like new radar guns. Fowkes said several departments in the northern panhandle badly need new radars and car computer systems.

Region 4 did receive the grant in 2011 for just more than $500,000. Fowkes said this year they've applied for a little less than $700,000. If awarded, the grant money could be applied as early as Oct. 1.