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 West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has been awarded a $105,600.33 Formula Grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616). This grant funding will support the state's occupant protection programs, consistent with the requirements outlined in 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f). The grant award period extends from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2027. The grant supports the DMV's efforts to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities in West Virginia through initiatives such as seatbelt usage campaigns, sobriety checkpoints, educational advertising, and partnerships with state/local transportation safety agencies. Grant funds enable the DMV to implement evidence-based countermeasures, enhance traffic records systems, and modernize vehicle inspection and credentialing programs.

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.