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 New Mexico Department of Transportation $415,468.67 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant program (CFDA 20.616, National Priority Safety Programs) to support state occupant protection programs designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.

Funding supports countermeasure strategies and planned projects identified in New Mexico's approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application. The award is apportioned under statutory formula to qualifying states that meet occupant protection eligibility requirements based on seat belt use categories. New Mexico, as a state highway safety office, receives these funds to implement occupant protection initiatives consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f).

Performance occurs in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with ultimate completion by September 30, 2029. The federal share is reimbursed on vouchers covering costs incurred; the state has converted to electronic transfer of funds for claims processing. New Mexico must retain project records for three years following submission of the final expenditure report and supporting documentation 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.