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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Public Safety South Carolina Department, doing business as the Office of Justice Programs, a $190,558.75 formula grant under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616). This 4-year award, running from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027, supports the state's occupant protection programs, traffic safety information system enhancements, impaired driving countermeasures, and other critical highway safety initiatives aligned with the statutory requirements of this federal funding stream. As the designated State Administering Agency, the Office of Justice Programs will manage subawards to state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits to implement evidence-based strategies and interventions to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities in South Carolina.

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.