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 Office of Highway Safety in New Hampshire has received a $119,568.74 federal Formula Grant award from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616). This 4-year grant, effective October 1, 2023, will support the state's occupant protection programs, consistent with federal regulations. The funding will enable the Office of Highway Safety to deliver data-driven initiatives to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities across New Hampshire. Key activities include enforcement patrols, DUI checkpoints, public education campaigns, child passenger safety programs, law enforcement training, and upgrades to the state's traffic data systems. The Office collaborates with sub-awardees such as the Department of Safety, Department of Justice, and local police departments to implement these evidence-based countermeasures targeting critical highway safety priorities like occupant protection, impaired driving, and vulnerable road user safety.

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.