23 C.F.R. § 1300.24

Current through September 30, 2024

Section 1300.24 - Distracted Driving Grants

(a)Purpose. This section establishes criteria, in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 405(e) , for awarding grants to States that include distracted driving awareness as part of the driver's license examination and enact and enforce a statute prohibiting distracted driving.

(b)Definitions. As used in this section-

Driving means operating a motor vehicle on a public road, and does not include operating a motor vehicle when the vehicle has pulled over to the side of, or off, an active roadway and has stopped in a location where it can safely remain stationary.

Personal wireless communications device means a device through which personal wireless services are transmitted, and a mobile telephone or other portable electronic communication device with which the user engages in a call or writes, sends, or reads a text message using at least one hand. Personal wireless communications device does not include a global navigation satellite system receiver used for positioning, emergency notification, or navigation purposes.

Text means to read from, or manually enter data into, a personal wireless communications device, including for the purpose of SMS texting, emailing, instant messaging, or any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication, and manually to enter, send, or retrieve a text message to communicate with another individual or device.

Text message means a text-based message, an instant message, an electronic message, and email, but does not include an emergency alert, traffic alert, weather alert, or a message relating to the operation or navigation of a motor vehicle.

(c)Qualification criteria for a Distracted Driving Awareness Grant. To qualify for a Distracted Driving Awareness Grant in a fiscal year, a State shall submit as part of its annual grant application, in accordance with part 6 of appendix B to this part, sample distracted driving questions from the State's driver's license examination.

(d)Qualification criteria for a Distracted Driving Law Grant. To qualify for a Distracted Driving Law Grant in a fiscal year, a State shall submit as part of its annual grant application, in accordance with part 6 of appendix B to this part, legal citations to the State statute demonstrating compliance with one of the following requirements:

(1)Prohibition on texting while driving. The State statute shall-

(i) Prohibit a driver from texting through a personal wireless communications device while driving;

(ii) Establish a fine for a violation of the statute; and

(iii) Not provide for an exemption that specifically allows a driver to use a personal wireless communication device for texting while stopped in traffic.

(2)Prohibition on handheld phone use while driving. The State statute shall-

(i) Prohibit a driver from holding a personal wireless communications device while driving;

(ii) Establishes a fine for a violation of the statute; and

(iii) Not provide for an exemption that specifically allows a driver to use a personal wireless communications device for texting while stopped in traffic.

(3)Prohibition on youth cell phone use while driving. The State statute shall-

(i) Prohibit a driver who is younger than 18 years of age or in the learner's permit or intermediate license stage from using a personal wireless communications device while driving;

(ii) Establish a fine for a violation of the statute; and

(iii) Not provide for an exemption that specifically allows a driver to use a personal wireless communication device for texting while stopped in traffic.

(4)Prohibition on viewing devices while driving. The State statute shall prohibit a driver from viewing a personal wireless communications device (except for purposes of navigation).

(5)Permitted exceptions. A State statute under paragraph (d)(1) through (3) of this section providing for any of the following exceptions (excluding the exception in paragraph (d)(5)(v) of this section for a law under paragraph (d)(3)), and no others, shall not be deemed out of compliance with the requirements of this paragraph (d):

(i) A driver who uses a personal wireless communications device during an emergency to contact emergency services to prevent injury to persons or property;

(ii) Emergency services personnel who use a personal wireless communications device while operating an emergency services vehicle and engaged in the performance of their duties as emergency services personnel;

(iii) An individual employed as a commercial motor vehicle driver or a school bus driver who uses a personal wireless communications device within the scope of such individual's employment if such use is permitted under the regulations promulgated pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31136 ;

(iv) A driver who uses a personal wireless communications device for navigation;

(v) Except for a law described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section (prohibition on youth cell phone use while driving), the use of a personal wireless communications device in a hands-free manner, with a hands-free accessory, or with the activation or deactivation of a feature or function of the personal wireless communications device with the motion of a single swipe or tap of the finger of the driver.

(e)Award amounts -

(1)In general.

(i) The amount available for Distracted Driving Awareness Grants under paragraph (c) of this section shall not be less than 50 percent of the amounts available under 23 U.S.C. 405(e) for the fiscal year; and the amount available for Distracted Driving Law Grants under paragraph (d) of this section shall not be more than 50 percent of the amounts available under 23 U.S.C. 405(e) for the fiscal year.

(ii) A State may be eligible for a Distracted Driving Awareness Grant under paragraph (c) of this section and for one additional Distracted Driving Law Grant under paragraph (d) of this section.

(2)Grant amount. -

(i)Distracted driving awareness. The amount of a distracted driving awareness grant awarded to a State under paragraph (c) of this section shall be based on the proportion that the apportionment of the State under section 402 for fiscal year 2009 bears to the apportionment of all States under section 402 for that fiscal year.

(ii)Distracted driving laws. Subject to paragraph (e)(2)(iii) of this section, the amount of a Distracted Driving Law Grant awarded to a State under paragraph (d) of this section shall be based on the proportion that the apportionment of the State under section 402 for fiscal year 2009 bears to the apportionment of all States under section 402 for that fiscal year.

(iii)Special rules for distracted driving laws.

(A) A State that qualifies for a Distracted Driving Law Grant under paragraph (d)(1), (2), or (3) of this section and enforces the law as a primary offense shall receive 100 percent of the amount under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section.

(B) A State that qualifies for a Distracted Driving Law Grant under paragraph (d)(1), (2), or (3) of this section and enforces the law as a secondary offense shall receive 50 percent of the amount under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section.

(C) A State that qualifies for a prohibition on viewing Devices While Driving Law Grant under paragraph (d)(4) of this section shall receive 25 percent of the amount under paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section.

(f)Use of funds -

(1)Eligible uses. Except as provided in paragraphs (f)(2) and (3) of this section, a State may use grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(e) only to educate the public through advertising that contains information about the dangers of texting or using a cell phone while driving, for traffic signs that notify drivers about the distracted driving law of the State, or for law enforcement costs related to the enforcement of the distracted driving law.

(2)Special rule. Notwithstanding paragraph (f)(1) of this section, a State may elect to use up to 50 percent of the grant funds awarded under 23 U.S.C. 405(e) for any eligible project or activity under Section 402.

(3)Special rule-MMUCC conforming States. Notwithstanding paragraphs (f)(1) and (2) of this section, a State may use up to 75 percent of amounts received under 23 U.S.C. 405(e) for any eligible project or activity under Section 402 if the State has conformed its distracted driving data element(s) to the most recent Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC). To demonstrate conformance with MMUCC, the State shall submit, within 30 days after notification of award, the State's most recent crash report with the distracted driving data element(s). NHTSA will notify a State submitting a crash report with the distracted driving data element(s) whether the State's distracted driving data element(s) conform(s) with the most recent MMUCC.

23 C.F.R. §1300.24

81 FR 32580, 5/23/2016; 83 FR 3482, 2/26/2018; 88 FR 7804, 3/8/2023