Today, the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation published in the Federal Register an Interim Final Rule on state highway safety grants called for under the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). MAP-21 made changes to NHTSA’s highway safety grant programs, including modifying the existing formula grant program by requiring states to develop and implement highway safety programs using performance measures. MAP-21 also replaced existing grant programs with the “National Priority Safety Programs,” which includes new grants for state ignition interlock laws, distracted driving, and graduated driver’s licensing. The interim final rule sets forth grant application, approval and administrative requirements and updates the Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Programs to incorporate the new performance measures process and the single application requirement. The rule also adds requirements for the new incentive grant programs and consolidates into one rule a number of old regulations that remain applicable to highway safety grants. The rule becomes effective today and comments are due on April 23, 2013. MAP-21 continues to require each state to submit a highway safety plan annually for NHSTA's approval. These plans now provide for a data-driven traffic safety enforcement program to prevent traffic violations, crashes and traffic deaths and injuries in high-risk locations.

Link: Interim Final Rule