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 Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission (operating as CST, a division of Administracion De Compensaciones POR Accidentes De Automoviles) $495,339.33 under the Section 405(B) Occupant Protection Grant program on October 1, 2025, to support occupant protection countermeasures and seat belt use initiatives across Puerto Rico through September 30, 2029.

The Section 405(B) Occupant Protection Grant funds state and territorial highway safety offices to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities through approved countermeasure strategies. Qualifying states meeting statutory seat belt use categories receive apportioned funding based on an approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application detailing planned projects and performance measures. Work is performed in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Puerto Rico Police Department, as a sub-grantee, received a sub-award on February 9, 2026, to conduct seat belt mobilization enforcement activities. The National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) formula grant program encourages states to address national highway safety priorities including occupant protection, impaired driving countermeasures, distracted driving, motorcyclist safety, and nonmotorized safety. Annual applications are due August 1, with NHTSA providing up to 60 days for review and approval. Federal share is reimbursed on voucher claims covering incurred costs.

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.