Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded $459,764.61 under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) formula grant to the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, Executive Office of Public Safety Division, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. This Section 405(E) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant supports the state's development and implementation of distracted driving prevention programs aligned with federal highway safety priorities.

Under this award, the Department of Public Safety will administer distracted driving countermeasure strategies designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from distracted driving. Funding supports state-level program costs including public awareness campaigns, enforcement initiatives, and educational efforts to address texting while driving and youth cell phone use while driving. The grant requires the state to maintain an approved Triennial Highway Safety Plan detailing problem identification, performance measures, and specific countermeasure strategies, along with annual grant applications outlining planned projects. As a formula grant, these funds are distributed to the state highway safety office based on demonstrated eligibility criteria and an approved comprehensive safety plan, with reimbursement provided on a cost-incurred basis through the Electronic Transfer of Funds method.