U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces Grants of $38.2 Million to Increase Seat Belt Use |
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Topics: Norman Y. Mineta
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NHTSA
February 15, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHTSA 11-01
Thursday, February 15, 2001
Contact: NHTSA, Tim Hurd, (202) 366-9550
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced that 43 states will share approximately $38.2 million in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) grants for states that develop innovative projects to increase seat belt use.
"I am pleased to see these funds provided to states to promote seat belt use," Secretary Mineta said. "Everyone should buckle up for every trip because seat belts are the best protection available in a crash. Their use improves safety and can prevent injury and death."
According to NHTSA, seat belts are the most effective safety device in vehicles and would save thousands more lives annually if everyone buckled up. In 2000, seat belt use in the United States was about 71 percent.
The goal of this grant program is to find creative new approaches to increase seat belt use across the nation 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 and another $700 million over six years for states to enact and enforce tough laws to prevent alcohol-impaired driving.
The innovative project grants were awarded competitively. All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were eligible to apply. The grant amounts for fiscal year 2001 range from $204,000 to nearly $2.9 million.
Maryland and Ohio this year are receiving these funds for the first time.
The following table lists the states receiving grants and their grant amounts.
Fiscal Year 2001 Section 157 Grants to Increase Seat Belt Use
| State | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,095,118 |
| Alaska | $744,740 |
| Arizona | $487,400 |
| Colorado | $686,000 |
| Connecticut | $428,000 |
| Florida | $1,999,293 |
| Georgia | $1,226,078 |
| Hawaii | $324,918 |
| Idaho | $776,316 |
| Illinois | $939,655 |
| Indiana | $807,100 |
| Iowa | $304,000 |
| Kansas | $250,000 |
| Kentucky | $834,775 |
| Louisiana | $735,000 |
| Maine | $605,055 |
| Maryland* | $1,529,172 |
| Massachusetts | $355,000 |
| Michigan | $1,685,635 |
| Minnesota | $631,500 |
| Mississippi | $678,795 |
| Missouri | $426,850 |
| Montana | $204,000 |
| Nebraska | $294,590 |
| Nevada | $288,130 |
| New Hampshire | $238,126 |
| New Jersey | $976,475 |
| New Mexico | $600,000 |
| New York | $2,898,962 |
| North Carolina | $1,500,000 |
| North Dakota | $531,500 |
| Ohio* | $871,389 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,254,635 |
| Rhode Island | $788,300 |
| South Carolina | $937,178 |
| Tennessee | $1,030,168 |
| Texas | $1,914,541 |
| Utah | $455,643 |
| Vermont | $596,061 |
| Virginia | $820,000 |
| Washington | $1,000,000 |
| West Virginia | $524,800 |
| Wisconsin | $1,882,303 |
| Total |
$ 38,157,201 |
* Received this grant for the first time.