Federal grant programs / Department of Transportation

National Priority Safety Programs (20.616)

• Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$1.4 billion
• Grant awards2,631
• Typical award$112,283
• Awarded in FY 2025$370 million
• Size rank212 of 1,823
• Type of assistanceFormula grants

Key findings

• Annual funding rose from $264 million in fiscal 2021 to $370 million in fiscal 2025.
• It is the 212th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
• The 20 largest recipients received 62% of the money.
• Awards went to recipients in 56 states and territories.

What the program funds

The formula grant program is designed to encourage States to address national highway safety priorities to improve traffic safety for travelers using public roadways for areas identified by Congress which includes —Occupant Protection, State Traffic Safety Information System Improvements, Impaired Driving Countermeasures, Distracted Driving, Motorcyclist Safety, Nonmotorized Safety, Preventing Roadside Deaths, and Driver and Officer Safety Education.

From the federal Assistance Listing. Read the full listing on SAM.gov.

Open opportunities

No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.

Rules from the program listing

Who can apply

With the exception of the Motorcyclist Safety Program, the 50 States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. territories (American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas, and Virgin Islands) are eligible for funding. Under the Motorcyclist Safety Program, the 50 States, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are eligible for grant awards.

What the money can and cannot pay for

Funding can be used to address national highway safety priority programs to reduce the number of highway deaths and injuries. Yes- Funds are available only to States, DC, Territories and must be used as defined in legislation and implementing regulation. Funds are available to the States, DC, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Territories and must be used as defined in statute.;

Matching requirements

Statutory Formula: Title 23, Part 1300, Subpart 12,Public Law 117-58.N/AFor all program under Section 405, the Federal share of the costs of the activities funded using amounts from grants awarded under this subsection may not exceed 80 percent for each fiscal year for which a State receives a grant. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Deadlines

Aug 01, 2025 to Aug 01, 2025 National Priority Safety Grant Program applications are due August 1 annually as part of the Annual Grant Application.

Award range and average, in the agency's words

In FY 2024 total grant awards across the six Section 405 grant programs ranged from $125,811 to $39,489,271.

Examples of funded projects

Fiscal Year2016: 47 States, DC and 2 Territories were awarded Occupant Protection grants; 50 States, DC, PR and 4 territories received Data grants; 50 States, DC and PR received Impaired Driving grants; 5 States were awarded Ignition Interlock grants; 1 State qualified for a Distracted driving grant; 45 States and PR received Motorcyclist Safety grants; and no States qualified for a graduated Driver Licensing Law grant. 47 States, DC and 2 Territories were awarded Occupant Protection grants; 50 States, DC, PR and 4 territories received Data grants; 50 States, DC and PR received Impaired Driving grants; 5 States were awarded Ignition Interlock grants; 1 State qualified for a Distracted driving grant; 45 States and PR received Motorcyclist Safety grants; and no States qualified for a graduated Driver Licensing Law grant.

Continue reading on SAM.gov

Quoted from the program's federal Assistance Listing. The notice of funding opportunity is the official source for each competition's rules.

Who usually wins

Almost all of the money went to state and local governments.

By state

55 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.

Award amounts are federal obligations reported to USAspending.gov for fiscal 2021 to 2025; see how our data works.