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)

This is a $565,441.05 Formula Grant awarded on October 1, 2023 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) to the Administracion De Compensaciones POR Accidentes De Automoviles, a division of the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission operating under the name "CST."

The funding supports the implementation of occupant protection programs, enforcement of distracted and impaired driving laws, public education campaigns, and traffic data system improvements in Puerto Rico. Key initiatives include encouraging seat belt usage, deterring drunk driving, and executing alcohol-impaired driving countermeasures through enforcement mobilizations. This grant is part of a broader portfolio of over $7 million in federal highway safety funding received by the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission and its partners to align with the Commonwealth's strategic highway safety plan.

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.