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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the State of Florida Department of Transportation $2,234,465.10 under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant on October 1, 2025, for the support of state occupant protection programs designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.

Funding flows through the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616), a formula grant program apportioned to states meeting statutory eligibility requirements. Florida qualifies under the high or low seat belt use categories. The grant funds occupant protection countermeasure strategies, including projects developed and budgeted in the state's approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application. Work is performed in Tallahassee, Florida, with a period of performance through September 30, 2029.

FDOT functions as the primary recipient and administrator of federal transportation grants throughout Florida, channeling federal funding to county and municipal governments for implementation. The reimbursement mechanism operates on a cost-incurred basis; the federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers. Recipients must retain records for three years following submission of a final expenditure report and all project deliverables, contract documents, and financial records pending resolution of any audit findings.

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.