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 $267,494.50 to Administracion De Compensaciones POR Accidentes De Automoviles (operating as the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, CST) 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 countermeasure programs designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Eligible recipients must have enacted and enforced a law prohibiting texting while driving or prohibiting youth cell phone use while driving. Puerto Rico qualifies under this requirement and receives funds based on an approved triennial highway safety plan that identifies problems, engages public participation, establishes performance measures, and specifies countermeasure strategies and annual project implementation plans.

The recipient, a division of the Puerto Rico Traffic Safety Commission, is a state government entity serving as the prime recipient for federal highway safety initiatives throughout Puerto Rico. The organization previously received awards under multiple NHTSA grant programs addressing occupant protection, traffic records systems, impaired driving, motorcyclist safety, and nonmotorized safety.

The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029. Work is performed in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred, and recipients must retain project records for three years following submission of a 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.