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 Montana Department of Transportation $199,481.33 under the Section 405(e) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant program on October 1, 2025, to support distracted driving countermeasure activities and public awareness programs designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes.

Montana qualifies for this formula grant funding under 23 U.S.C. § 405(e) by enforcing laws prohibiting texting while driving and youth cell phone use while driving. The award funds projects and countermeasures identified in Montana's approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application, including planned strategies to address distracted driving as a traffic safety priority.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029, with place of performance in Helena, Montana. The funding is classified as a formula grant under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616). Federal share reimbursement occurs on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred by the recipient. Montana is required to retain project records, contract documents, financial records, and supporting documentation for three years following submission of the final expenditure report.

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.