U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Grants of $44.4 Million to Increase Seat Belt Use

Topics:  Norman Y. Mineta

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
January 18, 2002

NHTSA 04-02
Friday, January 18, 2002
Contact: Tim Hurd
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced that 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will share approximately $44.4 million in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grants for states that develop innovative projects to increase seat belt use.

"These grants to promote seat belt use will work to prevent deaths and injuries on our highways," Secretary Mineta said. "Everyone should buckle up because seat belts are the best protection available in a crash."

According to NHTSA, seat belts are the most effective safety device in vehicles and their increasing use has saved more than 135,000 lives since 1975. In 2001, seat belt use in the United States was about 73 percent.

The goal of this grant program is to find creative new approaches to increase seat belt use with a major focus on highly visible enforcement of seat belt laws, coupled with public information and education.

The grants are authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). The Act provides for $500 million over five years for states to increase seat belt use.

The innovative project grants were awarded competitively. All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were eligible to apply. Maine and Wyoming chose not to apply for the grants. The amounts for fiscal year 2002 range from $365,000 to nearly $4 million.

The following table lists the states receiving grants and their grant amounts: