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 Maryland Department of Transportation $385,558.03 on October 1, 2025, under the Section 405(e) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant program (CFDA 20.616, National Priority Safety Programs).

The award funds state distracted driving programs designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Maryland qualifies for this funding by having enacted and enforced a law that prohibits texting while driving or youth cell phone use while driving. The recipient, the Maryland Department of Transportation's Office of Planning and Finance operating out of Glen Burnie, Maryland, will deploy the funds according to an approved Annual Grant Application detailing planned projects using identified countermeasure strategies.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. Federal reimbursement occurs on a voucher basis for costs incurred, with all fund transfers processed through the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Grant recipients must retain records for three years following submission of the final expenditure report and resolution of any audit findings.

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.