RICHMOND – Each year, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) provides vital federal grant funds to organizations making a difference in their communities through a passion for safety. If your organization is dedicated to helping save lives on Virginia’s roadways, please consider applying for a highway safety grant from DMV. Grants empower Virginia-based organizations like nonprofits, colleges and universities, law-enforcement agencies and state and local government agencies to implement campaigns and programs aimed at preventing traffic fatalities, injuries and crashes.
Grant-funded programs strive to prevent impaired driving; decrease speeding; increase seat belt use; or promote pedestrian, motorcyclist, bicyclist, teen or senior driver safety in local communities. Here are some examples of grant-funded projects:
- Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety: The National Organization of Youth Safety’s Vision Zero for Youth initiative is focused on eliminating pedestrian and bicycle crashes, injuries, and fatalities through safety improvements for children and youth. Grant funding has helped spread awareness by working with community and city leaders to improve safety for youth in areas like school zones, making progress toward the goal of zero crashes.
- Motorcycle Safety: The Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) is an organization with a mission to deliver patient-centered care. With help from grant funds the RAA launched the Rider Alert motorcycle safety program to save lives by providing free identification cards to help first responders provide accurate medical assistance to motorcyclists involved in serious collisions.
- Drunk Driving Prevention: DRIVE SMART Virginia is an organization dedicated to raising awareness of traffic safety issues to save lives and reduce injuries on Virginia roads. DRIVE SMART used grant funding to create outreach targeted at drunk driving prevention and promote planning for a sober ride home with video advertisement, “Slow Clap,” and social media initiatives “What’s Your Game Plan?” and “Who’s Your Driver?”
Interested applicants are required to complete a grant application training workshop. Workshops begin in January 2024. Applications must be submitted between February 1-28, 2024. Objectives to measure initiative effectiveness are required and funding is determined by the potential impact on the performance objectives. Examples of program evaluation measures and more information on funding areas can be found on our website. For more information about training courses, guidelines and access to applications, contact the DMV program manager in your area.