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 Department of Public Safety State of Utah Administration Division has been awarded a $189,265.68 Formula Grant by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the State and Community Highway Safety program (CFDA 20.600). The grant funding will support the state's occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f), which aim to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes through evidence-based countermeasure strategies. The grant award has a performance period from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2027 and is part of NHTSA's formula-based funding for state highway safety offices to implement approved statewide safety plans. Through this grant, the Department of Public Safety will coordinate traffic safety initiatives and sub-award portions of the funding to local government and non-profit partners for targeted occupant protection projects and programs across Utah.

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.