Section 405(b) occupant protection grant (23 C.F.R. & 1300.21; 23 U.S.C. & 405(b)) - grant to support certain costs of state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. & 1300.21(f)

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has been awarded a $1,280,751.66 federal Formula Grant under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This grant, with a performance period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027, will support California's state-level occupant protection programs focused on reducing motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities.

The grant funding will allow OTS to implement a variety of evidence-based countermeasures and initiatives in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and community partners. Activities may include public education campaigns to promote seatbelt use, child safety seat inspections, DUI checkpoint operations, distracted driving enforcement, and traffic records system upgrades. The grant supports OTS's role as the designated state highway safety office responsible for administering NHTSA formula funds to address critical traffic safety priorities in California.

Section 405(b) funding is available to qualifying states that meet statutory requirements for a high or low seat belt use categories. These funds are apportioned using statutory apportionment formula. These funds are provided to the state and territorial highway safety offices based on an approved triennial highway safety plan that details problem identification, public participation and engagement, performance measures, countermeasure strategies for programming funds and an approved annual grant application that details planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies for programming funds to help reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.