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 New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Transit and Rail Division has been awarded a $118,771.80 Formula Grant under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This grant will support the costs of the state's occupant protection programs, consistent with federal regulations. The funding is provided to NMDOT to deliver activities that help reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities in New Mexico, including data program enhancements, law enforcement training, public education campaigns, and implementation of evidence-based countermeasures. As the designated state transportation agency, NMDOT will serve as a pass-through entity to provide subawards to regional planning organizations, transit districts, and other stakeholders to carry out these highway safety initiatives across the state.

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.