Section 402 State
and Community Highway
Safety Grant Program
All State Highway Safety Grant Programs
History and Administration
The State and Community Highway Safety Grant Program, commonly referred to as Section 402, was initially authorized by the Highway Safety Act of 1966 and has been reauthorized and amended a number of times since then, most recently under MAP-21, with relatively few changes from SAFETEA-LU.
The program is jointly administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) at the federal level and by the State Highway Safety Offices (SHSO) at the state level.
Purpose
The Section 402 program provides grants to states to improve driver behavior and reduce deaths and injuries from motor vehicle-related crashes.
Requirements
Under MAP-21, states are required to have a highway safety program that is approved by the Secretary. Funds can be spent in accordance with national guidelines for programs to:
- Reduce impaired driving
- Reduce speeding
- Encourage the use of occupant protection
- Improve motorcycle safety
- Improve pedestrian and bicycle safety
- Reduce school bus deaths and injuries
- Reduce crashes from unsafe driving behavior
- Improve enforcement of traffic safety laws
- Improve driver performance
- Improve traffic records
- Enhance emergency services
In addition, states may (but are not required to) spend 402 funds on teen driver programs. If they do choose to fund these programs, they must fund peer-to-peer and prevention strategies. No 402 funds can be spent on the implementation of automated enforcement programs.
States must agree to three new assurances (that is, certifications) under MAP-21, in addition to the assurances required under SAFETEA-LU. These focus on state participation in national mobilizations, establishment of a data-driven enforcement program and coordination of the plan required under Section 402 with the state’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan (required under a different section of MAP-21).
$2.5 million of Section 402 funds are earmarked for a national cooperative research program.
States must submit an annual Highway Safety Plan (HSP) which must be data-driven and set quantifiable, annual performance targets for 15 performance measures. The plan must include strategies that will allow the state to meet its performance targets and must describe its successes in meeting its performance targets in the previous fiscal year.
States are required to submit their Section 402 and Section 405 consolidated grant application by July 1 of each fiscal year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will have 60 days to review and approve or disapprove the consolidated grant application.
Funding
Funds are apportioned to the states under the same formula as SAFETEA-LU: 75% population and 25% road-miles. At least 40% of Section 402 funds must be spent by local governments or be used for the benefit of local governments.
Funding for the 402 program is authorized at $235 million each year in FY 2013 and FY 2014. Prior Fiscal Year funding (under SAFETEA-LU) is illustrated in the chart below.
| State | |||||||
| Ala. | 3,608,017 | 3,679,651 | 3,690,222 | 3,860,407 | 3,856,400 | 3,808,758 | 3,860,802 |
| Alaska | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| A.S. | 536,753 | 549,675 | 562,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 |
| Ariz. | 3,497,557 | 3,600,940 | 3,566,418 | 3,724,875 | 3,720,276 | 4,161,471 | 4,164,699 |
| Ark. | 2,695,382 | 2,756,423 | 2,773,530 | 2,899,449 | 2,898,965 | 2,891,000 | 2,887,159 |
| Calif. | 20,358,137 | 20,841,918 | 20,451,688 | 21,364,288 | 21,376,394 | 21,447,553 | 21,443,790 |
| Colo. | 3,422,464 | 3,507,390 | 3,496,740 | 3,649,569 | 3,647,419 | 3,806,281 | 3,803,760 |
| Conn. | 2,098,888 | 2,149,098 | 2,112,181 | 2,205,640 | 2,205,755 | 2,126,507 | 2,125,354 |
| Del. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| D.C. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Fla. | 10,109,434 | 10,360,803 | 10,214,350 | 10,655,459 | 10,648,624 | 11,310,058 | 11,308,359 |
| Ga. | 5,889,764 | 6,035,692 | 5,986,828 | 6,254,917 | 6,293,657 | 6,654,565 | 6,667,220 |
| Guam | 536,753 | 549,675 | 562,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 |
| Hawaii | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Idaho | 1,296,592 | 1,326,009 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Ill. | 8,440,229 | 8,639,780 | 8,536,132 | 8,910,629 | 8,909,651 | 8,512,149 | 8,505,377 |
| Indian Ntns. |
4,294,026 | 4,397,400 | 4,497,400 | 4,697,400 | 4,697,400 | 4,697,400 | 4,697,400 |
| Ind. | 4,478,431 | 4,589,851 | 4,571,991 | 4,759,030 | 4,756,964 | 4,665,475 | 4,662,177 |
| Iowa | 3,025,774 | 3,095,204 | 3,113,394 | 3,247,265 | 3,243,100 | 3,158,119 | 3,153,642 |
| Kan. | 3,168,620 | 3,244,480 | 3,342,165 | 3,481,778 | 3,480,910 | 3,429,058 | 3,421,564 |
| Ky. | 3,158,798 | 3,239,844 | 3,225,075 | 3,369,347 | 3,368,440 | 3,323,538 | 3,323,180 |
| La. | 3,178,495 | 3,252,190 | 3,219,639 | 3,360,628 | 3,359,049 | 3,175,578 | 3,173,083 |
| Maine | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Md. | 3,237,794 | 3,316,360 | 3,258,565 | 3,404,680 | 3,404,603 | 3,391,537 | 3,390,994 |
| Mass. | 3,866,587 | 3,959,515 | 3,887,977 | 4,059,963 | 4,059,880 | 3,853,127 | 3,852,547 |
| Mich. | 6,900,407 | 7,048,850 | 6,973,065 | 7,274,870 | 7,270,998 | 6,755,003 | 6,754,159 |
| Minn. | 4,327,252 | 4,426,909 | 4,428,046 | 4,699,883 | 4,695,896 | 4,644,538 | 4,639,462 |
| Miss. | 2,474,600 | 2,532,623 | 2,531,997 | 2,643,663 | 2,644,321 | 2,566,626 | 2,564,625 |
| Mo. | 4,628,513 | 4,735,122 | 4,720,485 | 4,950,969 | 4,954,105 | 4,886,305 | 4,888,140 |
| Mont. | 1,371,742 | 1,400,104 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Neb. | 2,110,203 | 2,157,572 | 2,181,920 | 2,274,231 | 2,273,572 | 2,244,505 | 2,240,732 |
| Nev. | 1,507,235 | 1,550,291 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,868,169 | 1,869,685 |
| N.H. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| N.J. | 5,005,514 | 5,129,873 | 5,029,867 | 5,254,171 | 5,252,614 | 5,037,446 | 5,041,398 |
| N.M. | 1,794,536 | 1,831,580 | 1,838,814 | 1,981,239 | 1,979,126 | 2,009,978 | 2,006,925 |
| N.Y. | 11,638,301 | 11,915,248 | 11,704,681 | 12,220,901 | 12,226,595 | 11,508,265 | 11,503,683 |
| N.C. | 5,633,697 | 5,770,870 | 5,715,545 | 5,975,238 | 5,980,760 | 6,346,500 | 6,347,823 |
| N.D. | 1,453,552 | 1,484,719 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| M.P. | 536,753 | 549,675 | 562,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 |
| Ohio | 7,690,358 | 7,870,904 | 7,776,723 | 8,116,639 | 8,080,782 | 7,617,572 | 7,616,115 |
| Okla. | 3,292,977 | 3,369,999 | 3,380,662 | 3,522,680 | 3,523,796 | 3,501,636 | 3,492,897 |
| Ore. | 2,678,691 | 2,722,972 | 2,704,760 | 2,756,760 | 2,747,246 | 2,786,030 | 2,783,769 |
| Pa. | 8,135,906 | 8,326,807 | 8,222,136 | 8,585,361 | 8,583,135 | 8,200,445 | 8,174,544 |
| P.R. | 2,248,799 | 2,302,974 | 2,260,648 | 2,362,117 | 2,363,947 | 2,137,866 | 2,137,309 |
| R.I. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| S.C. | 3,000,830 | 3,069,888 | 3,046,679 | 3,178,721 | 3,176,145 | 3,291,878 | 3,285,678 |
| S.D. | 1,472,738 | 1,509,078 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Tenn. | 4,191,984 | 4,307,904 | 4,286,259 | 4,466,953 | 4,478,971 | 4,549,282 | 4,558,549 |
| Texas | 15,070,584 | 15,432,463 | 15,306,079 | 15,978,702 | 15,974,123 | 17,204,728 | 17,224,842 |
| Utah | 1,744,772 | 1,795,754 | 1,789,109 | 1,872,995 | 1,877,938 | 2,041,021 | 2,042,506 |
| Vt. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| V.I. | 536,753 | 549,675 | 562,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 | 587,175 |
| Va. | 4,715,036 | 4,830,829 | 4,771,851 | 4,984,827 | 4,999,384 | 5,128,104 | 5,127,562 |
| Wash. | 4,202,727 | 4,328,363 | 4,285,410 | 4,474,030 | 4,472,000 | 4,606,229 | 4,607,041 |
| W.Va. | 1,443,924 | 1,477,195 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Wis | 4,332,858 | 4,473,711 | 4,424,394 | 4,618,151 | 4,615,484 | 4,515,650 | 4,511,400 |
| Wy. | 1,073,507 | 1,099,350 | 1,686,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 | 1,761,525 |
| Total $ | 214,701,300 | 219,870,000 | 224,870,000 | 234,870,000 | 234,870,000 | 234,870,000 | 234,870,000 |