RICHMOND – If your organization is dedicated to keeping Virginia’s roads safe, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) Highway Safety Office wants to help you save lives with essential grant funding. Applications may be submitted by local governments, state agencies, institutions of higher learning and nonprofits serving Virginia with transportation programs. Grant applications are due February 28, 2024.
Grant funding is available in many areas of highway safety such as pedestrian safety, motorcycle safety, speed prevention, and drunk and distracted driving prevention. Below is more information on these areas of safety. Does your organization have a program that can help?
- Pedestrian safety – Vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists need your support. In 2023, 132 pedestrians were killed in crashes. DMV is looking to fund programs that share pedestrian safety education in their communities or help in enforcement surrounding areas that are problematic for pedestrians.
- Motorcycle safety – In 2023, there were 2,125 crashes on Virginia’s roadways involving motorcycles. Motorcyclists need drivers to share the road and up-to-date training for motorcyclists is vital for safe travel. DMV is looking to fund programs that raise awareness around motorcyclist training, promoting the importance of helmets or promoting safe operation of motorcycles through public information campaigns.
- Speed prevention – Speeding is a primary factor in crashes year after year. In 2023, speed was a factor in 25,229 crashes resulting in 446 deaths. Programs focused on prevention, enforcement and raising public awareness surrounding the dangers of speeding could receive vital funding from DMV.
- Drunk driving prevention – Last year, 252 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes. DMV wants to partner with organizations that seek to share information and raise enforcement to help prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel.
Distracted driving prevention – In 2023, distracted driving resulted in 21,486 crashes. If your organization is dedicated to raising public awareness surrounding the dangers of distracted driving, DMV wants to help.
If your organization is helping raise awareness in one of these areas, please consider applying for a highway safety grant. Examples of program evaluation measures and more information on additional funding areas can be found on our website. For more information on grant applications or required training workshops, please reach out to the DMV program manager in your area.