Incentive Grant Program to Increase Motorcyclist Safety

Encouraged States to adopt and implement effective programs to reduce the number of single and multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcyclists.

This Grant was available to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

State Highway Safety Agencies.

Eligibility for the Section 2010 grants were based on 6 specified grant criteria. To qualify for a Section 2010 grant for the first fiscal year the State seeks to qualify, it must demonstrate compliance with at least 1 of the 6 grant criteria. To qualify for a Section 2010 grant for the second and subsequent fiscal years that it seeks to qualify, a State must demonstrate compliance with at least 2 of the 6 grant criteria. A State would submit information unique to each criterion for which it chooses to demonstrate compliance.

As specified in SAFETEA-LU, a State used Section 2010 grant funds only for motorcyclist safety training and motorcyclist awareness programs, including: (1) Improvements to motorcyclist safety training curricula; (2) Improvements in program delivery of motorcycle training to both urban and rural areas (including procurement or repair of practice motorcycles; instructional materials; mobile training units; and leasing or purchasing facilities for closed-course motorcycle skill training); (3) Measures designed to increase the recruitment or retention of motorcyclist safety training instructors; and (4) Public awareness, public service announcements, and other outreach programs to enhance driver awareness of motorcyclists.

Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation are available until expended.

No new funding is available for this SAFETEA-LU incentive grant.

To apply for grant funds in a fiscal year, a State submitted a completed application to the appropriate NHTSA Regional Administrator by the due date. NHTSA reviewed each State's application for compliance with Section 2010 and notify qualifying States in writing of grant awards. Upon initial review of the application, the proposed procedures would allow NHTSA to request additional information from the State prior to making a determination of award in order to clarify compliance with the statutory criteria and grant application procedures. SAFETEA-LU specifies that the amount of a grant made to a State for a fiscal year under this grant program may not be less than $100,000 and may not exceed 25 percent of the amount apportioned to the State for fiscal year 2003 under section 402 of title 23, United States Code. However, the release of the full grant amounts under Section 2010 were subject to the availability of funding for each fiscal year.

SAFETEA-LU provided that a State qualify for a grant under the Section 2010 by satisfying one or more of six criteria. States must satisfy one criterion in the first year and two criteria in the subsequent years. In sum, the criteria are: (1) offering effective motorcycle rider training courses, (2) developing an effective motorcyclists awareness program, (3) showing a reduction in of fatalities and crashes involving motorcycles, (4) implementing an impaired driving program, (5) showing a reduction of fatalities and accidents involving impaired motorcyclists, and/or (6) showing that all fees collected from motorcyclists are used for motorcyclists safety training and motorcycle awareness. A State must submit documents unique to each criterion the State wishes to qualify showing how the State demonstrates compliance with the criterion.

NHTSA reviewed each State's application for compliance with Section 2010 and notify qualifying States in writing of grant awards. Once the State is notified, it will submit to the agency a plan that describes the programs the State will implement using the funds. Federal share is reimbursed on claims submitted in vouchers covering costs incurred. All participants have converted to the Electronic Transfer of Funds method. Funds placed in obligation were available until expended.

Certifications were submitted each year showing that changes have not been made to any information related to the criterion or criteria previously satisfied. A State may certify each subsequent year of the grant program.