Turning a career in law enforcement into a proactive force for road safety, former officers Gregory Hunter and Bernadine Moore have taken on new roles at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). After decades on the front lines of traffic-related incidents, these two have shifted their focus from response to prevention within TxDOT's Traffic Safety Section in Dallas, as reported by TxDOT's newsroom.
The Behavioral Traffic Safety Division, where Hunter and Moore work, manages a wide variety of programs aimed at reducing road accidents across the state. Their oversight includes handling grants, spearheading community outreach efforts, and leading statewide campaigns to promote safe driving habits. Despite a resume steeped in crash reconstruction and traffic safety, their roles at TxDOT lean on strategizing over the somber task of picking up pieces post-collision.
Each grant proposal processed by the department goes through a rigorous evaluation, anchored by the SMART principle. This framework ensures the goals set are specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and time-framed. Moore, who previously served with the Texas Department of Public Safety's Highway Patrol, and Hunter, a Garland Police Department veteran, have seen their fair share of tragedies on the road, which fuels their dedication to this preventative work.
On average, TxDOT's department approves about 591 grants each year, supporting initiatives from the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, which reimburses local law enforcement for overtime targeting crash reduction, to the Click-it-or-Ticket and Operation Slowdown campaigns. "We are very proud of all the grants the state has entrusted under our supervision," Hunter stated in an announcement obtained by TxDOT's newsroom.
With their law enforcement backgrounds, Hunter and Moore bring the experience needed to improve traffic safety. For them, managing grants and programs isn't just paperwork—it's a life-saving mission. Their expertise shows that preventing traffic accidents is as important as any police chase or emergency response.
