Federal Formula Grant Award Summary

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded $199,481.34 to the Office of Highway Safety in New Hampshire under the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616) Section 405(E) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. This formula grant supports the state's distracted driving prevention initiatives, specifically funding programs and enforcement activities designed to reduce motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from distracted driving behaviors. As New Hampshire's designated State Highway Safety Office, the awardee administers evidence-based countermeasure strategies that align with the state's approved Triennial Highway Safety Plan and annual grant applications, addressing the national priority of distracted driving prevention through targeted public awareness campaigns, law enforcement training and enforcement patrols, and driver licensing exam enhancements.

The grant enables the Office of Highway Safety to implement comprehensive distracted driving programs in collaboration with sub-awardees including the New Hampshire Department of Safety, the Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, and municipal police departments throughout the state. Funding supports activities consistent with Section 405(E) requirements, which obligate New Hampshire to maintain and enforce laws prohibiting texting while driving and youth cell phone use while driving. The four-year award period reflects NHTSA's sustained federal investment in the state's highway safety infrastructure, with deliverables and progress measured against established performance metrics outlined in the state's highway safety strategic plan.