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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety, through its Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division, has received a $158,482.96 federal Formula Grant award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616). The grant funds will support the state's occupant protection programs consistent with federal regulations, as well as initiatives to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Mississippi. Specific activities to be undertaken include public education campaigns, enforcement of seat belt and child restraint laws, and improvements to the state's traffic records systems. These efforts are part of the state's approved highway safety plan and annual grant application detailing the use of evidence-based countermeasure strategies. The grant has a performance period from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027.

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.