SPI Insights

Washington, D.C. – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will award $256.4 million in highway safety grants to support an array of traffic safety priorities across the nation.

Highway safety offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive these grants as part of the funding included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

More than $133 million in State and Community Highway Safety Program funds will enhance highway safety by supporting data-driven traffic safety programs in the states. These programs include initiatives such as high-visibility enforcement campaigns and other safe driving campaigns.

NHTSA is providing an additional $123.4 million to states and eligible territories through the National Priority Incentive Programs. These funds include nearly $70 million for impaired driving countermeasures, $19 million for state traffic safety information systems to help states build databases related to crashes, more than $17 million for occupant protection including seat belt education and enforcement, more than $9 million for distracted driving prevention, $6.6 million for pedestrian and bicyclist safety programs, and $2 million for motorcyclist safety.

When full-year distributions are completed, the law will increase the funding available for these programs by 31 percent over the previous fiscal year’s levels.

This funding is part of over $13 billion in funding for roadway safety programs in the new law, including a $6 billion new Safe Streets for All discretionary grant program.

The Department plans to release its first National Roadway Safety Strategy in January to lay out policies and issue a call to action to officials at all levels of government and stakeholders across sectors to help reduce traffic fatalities and injuries.