The grants support planning to identify highway safety problems, set goals and performance measures for highway safety improvements, provide start-up money for new programs, give new direction and support to existing safety programs, and fund analyses to determine progress in improving safety. At least 40 percent of these funds are to be used by States and communities to address local traffic safety problems. Seat Belt and Occupant Protection Programs Seat belt incentive grants. The amount of funds States receive will be based on calculations by the Secretary of the annual savings to the Federal Government in medical costs which result from the State's improvement its seat belt use rate. A State may use these awards for highway safety and highway construction programs.
Seat belt use innovative grants.
The Act also provides that Section 157 funds not allocated to incentive grants in a fiscal year be allocated to the States to carry out innovative projects to promote increased seat belt use rates. Occupant protection incentive grants. Under this program, the Secretary will make grants to States that adopt or demonstrate specific programs, such as primary safety belt use laws and special traffic enforcement programs. Grant funds may be used only to implement and enforce occupant protection programs. Child passenger protection education grants.