Section 405(e) distracted driving awareness grant (23 C.F.R. § 1300.24; 23 U.S.C. § 405(e)) ― grant to support certain costs of state distracted driving programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. §…

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Iowa Department of Public Safety $367,731.80 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(e) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant program to support state distracted driving countermeasures and public awareness activities. This award is part of the National Priority Safety Programs formula grant (CFDA 20.616), which distributes federal highway safety funding to states that meet eligibility requirements.

Iowa qualifies for this funding by having enacted and enforced laws prohibiting texting while driving or youth cell phone use while driving. The award supports planned projects using countermeasure strategies designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from distracted driving. Funding was obligated based on Iowa's approved Triennial Highway Safety Plan and Annual Grant Application, which detail problem identification, public participation strategies, performance measures, and specific programming to address distracted driving.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029, with place of performance at Des Moines, Iowa. Federal share is reimbursed on a cost-incurred basis through voucher submissions. Iowa administers the award as a pass-through formula grant vehicle, distributing resources to local law enforcement agencies, cities, and counties throughout the state for implementation of distracted driving countermeasures and enforcement activities.

Section 405(e) distracted driving awareness grant (23 C.F.R. § 1300.24; 23 U.S.C. § 405(e)) ― grant to support certain costs of state distracted driving programs consistent with 23 C.F.R. § 1300.24(f). 405(e) funding is available to qualifying states that enact and enforce a law that prohibits texting while driving or prohibits youth cell phone use while driving. 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.