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 Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has received a $298,831.64 Formula Grant award under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This grant provides funding to the DMV to support certain costs of the state's occupant protection programs, consistent with federal regulations. The grant will be utilized to carry out activities that help reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes in Virginia. Funding can be applied towards data program enhancements, law enforcement training, public education campaigns, and implementation of evidence-based countermeasures as part of the state's approved highway safety plan. The grant has a performance period from October 1, 2023 to 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.