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 Rhode Island Department of Transportation $369,394.32 on October 1, 2025, under the National Priority Safety Programs formula grant (CFDA 20.616), Section 405(b) Occupant Protection program.

The award funds occupant protection initiatives designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes. Rhode Island DOT implements countermeasure strategies identified in its approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application, targeting reduction in occupant protection-related fatalities and injuries statewide.

The award obligates $369,394.32 with a period of performance through September 30, 2029. Work is performed in Providence, Rhode Island. The Section 405(b) program provides funding to qualifying states meeting statutory seat belt use category requirements. Funding is apportioned by statutory formula and requires an approved triennial highway safety plan detailing problem identification, public participation, performance measures, and countermeasure strategies, plus an approved annual grant application specifying planned projects.

Rhode Island DOT is a division of the State of Rhode Island and receives this funding as a state highway safety office under 23 U.S.C. § 405(b) and 23 C.F.R. § 1300.21(f). The parent entity, the State of Rhode Island, holds ultimate authority and fiduciary responsibility for the grant award.

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.