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 West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles $369,394.32 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant program (CFDA 20.616, National Priority Safety Programs), to support the state's occupant protection program consistent with 23 CFR 1300.21(f).

The West Virginia DMV will use the funding to implement countermeasure strategies and planned projects designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. The state is eligible for this award because it meets statutory requirements for either a high or low seat belt use category. The award obligates $369,394.32 and covers the period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029, with performance in Charleston, West Virginia.

The Section 405(b) Occupant Protection Grant requires recipients to develop and execute projects detailed in an approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application that identify problem areas, establish performance measures, define countermeasure strategies, and document public participation. The program apportions funds to state and territorial highway safety offices using a statutory formula, and reimbursement occurs on a cost-incurred basis through submitted vouchers.

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.