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 Public Safety South Carolina Department $666,582.37 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant, a component of the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616).

The award funds state occupant protection programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. 1300.21(f), supporting projects and countermeasure strategies designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes. South Carolina, qualified as a high or low seat belt use category state, received this formula-apportioned funding based on an approved triennial highway safety plan and an annual grant application detailing planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies.

The recipient, the Public Safety South Carolina Department operating as the Office of Justice Programs, administers the award from Blythewood, South Carolina. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029.

The National Priority Safety Programs formula grant is designed to encourage states to address national highway safety priorities identified by Congress, including occupant protection, traffic safety information system improvements, impaired driving countermeasures, distracted driving, motorcyclist safety, nonmotorized safety, preventing roadside deaths, and driver and officer safety education. Federal reimbursement is provided on claims submitted in vouchers 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.