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 West Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles $199,481.33 under the Section 405(e) Distracted Driving Awareness Grant program on October 1, 2025. This formula grant funds state distracted driving programs, including public awareness initiatives and countermeasure strategies designed to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities resulting from distracted driving. The award is part of the National Priority Safety Programs (CFDA 20.616), available to states that enact and enforce laws prohibiting texting while driving or youth cell phone use while driving. Performance takes place in Charleston, West Virginia, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2029. West Virginia qualified for this funding by meeting eligibility requirements and submitting an approved triennial highway safety plan and annual grant application that identify distracted driving problems, outline public participation and engagement strategies, establish performance measures, and describe specific countermeasure projects. The federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred.

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.