TEA-21 State Highway Safety Programs

Section 157 Safety Belt Incentive Grants


History and Administration

The Section 157 program, Safety Incentive Grants for Use of Seat Belts, provides funding to encourage states to increase safety belt use rates. The program is authorized under Title I (highways) of the Transportation Efficiency Act of the 21st Century. The program is jointly administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at the federal level. At the state level, it is administered by the state DOT, the State Highway Safety Office (SHSO), or both, depending upon how the funds are spent.

Requirements

A state is eligible for an incentive grant if its safety belt use rate is greater than the national average for the two preceding years. (In FY 1999, 1997 and 1998 survey data will be used.) If a state does not meet that criterion, it may be eligible for an incentive grant if it's belt use rate in the previous year is higher than the state's base rate. The base rate is defined as the highest use rate for any calendar year from 1996 through the calendar year preceding the previous calendar year. (Hence, the state's base rate in 1999 would involve the highest use rate from the period of 1996 and 1997.)

The seat belt use rate applies to passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans and SUV's and must be measured in accordance with the survey guidelines developed by DOT. In 1998 and beyond, state survey methodology must conform with the federal guidelines.

A state may use these grant funds for any purpose under Title 23 of the U.S. Code (highways and highway construction). The federal matching share will depend upon the use to which the funds are put.

In FY 2000 - FY 2003, unallocated funding was used for innovative occupant protection grants to states. The federal matching share for the innovative grants was 100%.

Funding

The amount of funding is based upon calculations by DOT of the annual savings to the federal government in medical costs as result of safety belt use. A qualifying state will receive an amount equal to the federal savings due to the amount the state's safety belt use rate either exceeded the national average in that year or its own base rate in the previous calendar year.

Current and Previous Fiscal Year Funding Levels >>