Slater Announces Grants of $25 Million to Increase Seat Belt Use
28 February 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | NHTSA 06-00 | |
---|---|---|
Friday, February 25, 2000 | Contact: NHTSA, Tim Hurd, (202) 366-9550 | |
U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Announces
Grants of $25 Million to Increase Seat Belt Use
U. S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today announced that 44 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will share approximately $25 million in grants for states that develop innovative projects designed to increase seat belt use.
"Providing funds to help save lives and prevent injuries is one of the most important actions the federal government can take," Vice President Gore said. "Innovative projects made possible by these grants will do just that - more motorists will buckle up when they learn how seat belts can help prevent injuries in car crashes."
"The grants underscore the department's commitment to safety, President Clinton's and Vice President Gore's highest transportation priority," Secretary Slater said. "Many Americans do not realize that automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for youth of all ages. Further, nearly 57 percent of those killed in vehicle crashes, both children and adults, are unbelted. Seat belts are the most effective safety device in vehicles and would save thousands more lives if everyone buckled up."
Information collected from the 1998 National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) showed that restraint use has increased from 62 percent in 1996 to 70 percent in 1998. NHTSA statistics show that in 1998 seat belts saved an estimated 11,088 lives.
"The goal of this program is to find creative new approaches to increase seat belt use across the nation," said Rosalyn G. Millman, Acting Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). "We have succeeded with our current programs, but we are always looking to reach as many people as possible with our life-saving message."
The grants are authorized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which President Clinton signed into law on June 9, 1998. The Act provides for more than $1.2 billion in incentive grants to increase seat belt use and prevent alcohol-impaired driving - $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.
In November under the same Act, the Secretary awarded $54.6 million in grants to states whose seat belt use rate exceeded the national average or their own highest previous seat belt use rate.
"These funds, together with the awards announced today, provide essential resources to increase seat belt use in every community," said Millman.
The innovative project grants were awarded competitively. All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico were eligible to apply. The grant amounts range from $120,000 to $1.6 million for fiscal year 2000.
The following table lists the states receiving grants and their grant amounts.
FY 2000 Grants for States to Develop Innovative Projects
To Increase Seat Belt Use
State
Award Alabama
$ 810,405 Alaska
$ 495,400 Arizona
$ 490,900 Arkansas
$ 237,000 Colorado
$ 727,000 Connecticut
$ 425,000 Delaware
$ 121,500 DC
$ 264,630 Florida
$1,353,000 Georgia
$1,000,000 Hawaii
$ 228,418 Idaho
$ 500,000 Illinois
$ 546,640 Indiana
$ 669,800 Iowa
$ 230,000 Kansas
$ 200,000 Kentucky
$ 569,300 Louisiana
$ 735,000 Maine
$ 354,200 Massachusetts
$ 346,000 Michigan
$1,042,277 Minnesota
$ 365,200 Mississippi
$ 499,432 Missouri
$ 535,450 Montana
$ 204,000 Nebraska
$ 436,680 Nevada
$ 290,675 New Hampshire
$ 153,134 New Jersey
$ 685,620 New Mexico
$ 316,000 New York
$1,215,729 North Carolina
$ 800,000 North Dakota
$ 450,298 Oregon
$ 349,764 Pennsylvania
$ 376,461 Puerto Rico
$ 283,300 Rhode Island
$ 448,000 South Carolina
$ 910,109 Tennessee
$ 914,500 Texas
$1,607,608 Utah
$ 379,613 Vermont
$ 518,400 Virginia
$ 820,000 Washington
$ 500,000 West Virginia
$ 229,500 Wisconsin
$ 884,984 Total
$25,520,927