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 Maine Department of Public Safety $199,481.34 under the Section 405(E) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant on October 1, 2025, to support state distracted driving countermeasure programs consistent with federal highway safety priorities outlined in the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616).

The award funds projects and activities designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from distracted driving, with work performed in Augusta, Maine. Maine qualifies for this funding by having enacted and enforcing laws that prohibit texting while driving or youth cell phone use while driving. The recipient will implement countermeasure strategies identified in its approved Triennial Highway Safety Plan and annual grant application, which detail problem identification, public engagement, performance measures, and specific programming strategies.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. Federal reimbursement is provided on a voucher basis covering actual costs incurred. Maine Department of Public Safety, as the state highway safety office, serves as the administering entity for this formula grant and will manage the funds in accordance with applicable federal regulations and grant conditions.

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.