Highway Safety Programs

Description of Programs

The Office of Highway Safety administers the  Federal Highway Safety Grant Programs, which currently are funded by formula through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and the Highway Safety Act of 1966.  The goal of the program is to reduce deaths and serious injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes by implementing programs designed to address driver behaviors.  The purpose of the program is to provide grant funding at the state and community level for a highway safety program that addresses Idaho’s own unique circumstances and particular highway safety needs.

Traffic Safety Problems

A “traffic safety problem” is an identifiable subgroup of drivers, pedestrians, vehicles, or roadways that is statistically higher in collision experience than normal expectations.  Problem identification involves the study of relationships between collisions and the population, licensed drivers, registered vehicles and vehicle miles, as well as characteristics of specific subgroups that may contribute to collisions.     

For the Federal Fiscal Year 2010-2012 plan, the process used to identify traffic safety problems began initially by evaluating Idaho’s experience in each of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA’s) eight highway safety priority areas.  These were program areas determined by NHTSA to be most effective in reducing motor vehicle collisions, injuries and deaths.  Consideration for other potential traffic safety problem areas came from analyzing Idaho collision data, suggestions from Idaho Traffic Safety Commission (ITSC) members, suggestions by Office of Highway Safety staff, and by researching issues identified by other states.  All traffic safety problems must be validated with supporting data and there must be an effective countermeasure to address the problem that is eligible for Federal highway safety funds.

The traffic safety problem areas that have been identified and are currently being addressed are:  Aggressive Driving, Occupant Protection, Impaired Driving, Youthful Drivers, Pedestrian Safety, Bicycle Safety, Traffic Records, and Emergency Medical Services. 

Grant Opportunities and Process Description

Only state and local governmental units are eligible to receive highway safety grants.  The highway safety grant process operates on the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY), which runs from October 1 to September 31.  Request for proposals for the upcoming FFY go out on the first Monday in January.  The request for proposal gives an overview of applying for a grant, who is eligible to receive funds and a description of the focus areas.  The letter of intent is the grant application.  It must be received or post-marked by midnight, February13th.  Letters of intent may be e-mailed, faxed, or mailed to the Office of Highway Safety.  Letters of intent that are not received or post-marked by the specified deadline are automatically ineligible.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the the documents below.  If you do not have the reader, click below to download a free version. 

Application Period Ended February 13, 2009 (MST) for Federal Fiscal Year 2010

An Excel version of the Letter of Intent is available for downloading.  Please fill in the boxes that are highlighted in yellow.  You can also print off the PDF version, fill it out by hand and either fax or mail it in.

Letter of Intent can be e-mailed to ohsgrants@itd.idaho.gov, faxed to (208) 334-4430, or mailed to Idaho Transportation Department, Office of Highway Safety, PO Box 7129, Boise ID 83707.  

Request for Proposal Intro Letter       

Section 402 Highway Safety Grant Application

  Please send comments, questions, and suggestions to ohsweb@itd.idaho.gov