IIJA Supplemental (Division J) $ $ $

What this funds

1/ Final Research funding levels TBD subject to surface transportion reauthorization. Vehicle research will prioritize critical safety areas, including the safety and cybersecurity of vehicle electronic systems; advanced safety technologies designed to prevent crashes or reduce their severity; and Automated Driving Systems (ADS), which have the potential to transform road transportation upon deployment. Additional focus areas include vehicle crashworthiness and occupant protection during collisions; safety for vulnerable road users such as bicyclists, motorcyclists, and older drivers; and human factors research to better understand driver interaction with vehicle technologies and the broader transportation system. The research will also address improved crash safety across all ages, sexes, and body types; safety concerns related to alternative fuels, including battery-electric vehicle fire risks; countermeasures to address alcohol impairment and reduce risky driving behaviors such as speeding, drowsiness, and distraction; and initiatives to enhance the protection of child passengers. The Vehicle Electronics and Cybersecurity Program addresses both the functional safety and Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF) of vehicle electronic systems, as well as vehicle cybersecurity. Planned functional safety research focuses on managing safety risks associated with environmental conditions. SOTIF analyses, guided by industry standards, assess the reliability and safety of advanced electronic control systems, software, and electromechanical components-- particularly the unintended consequences that may arise from system misuse or operation beyond Vehicle cybersecurity research centers on managing safety risks linked to intentional threats, such as the manipulation of vehicle software, hardware, sensors, and internal communication networks. A systematic approach to identifying vulnerabilities and managing emerging risks is critical to ensure that vehicle architectures remain safe and resilient, even in the face of system failures, focuses on vehicle systems and technologies that help drivers avoid crashes in passenger vehicles, large trucks, and buses--commonly referred to as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). This program also encompasses research on conventional vehicle components such as tires, brakes, and mirrors; human factors studies related to the safe integration of in-vehicle displays and controls; and investigations into driver impairments, including alcohol use, distraction, and drowsiness. In addition, the program addresses the safety of vulnerable road users, including motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, and explores the potential role and impact of vehicle The Advanced Safety Technology program leads national safety research and accelerates the responsible deployment of safety-enhancing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) across the U.S. vehicle fleet. The program prioritizes safety systems and innovations that directly address real-world crashes involving light and heavy vehicles, as well as vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. Research efforts aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of ADAS-enabling technologies, including sensor systems, and to evaluate their performance, capabilities, limitations, effectiveness, and potential risks across all vehicle types and roadway users. The program also explores safety technologies that monitor driver behavior to promote attentive driving. The program will continue to leverage emerging technologies and innovative systems that show promise in preventing crashes and improving vehicle safety-- especially those designed to detect and respond to vulnerable road users. The Automated Driving Systems (ADS) program focuses on advancing the knowledge and tools necessary to inform regulatory decisions that support the safe deployment of innovative, safety- enhancing technologies. Key objectives include developing methods to evaluate ADS safety, cases, and identifying potential gaps. The program will conduct foundational research in ADS safety performance and human factors. All research activities will align with the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic safety and policy goals and support the pillars of the AV Regulatory In 2027, NHTSA's Crashworthiness Research Program will continue to support agency decisions related to motor vehicle crash safety and the causes and outcomes of occupant and road user injuries. The program evaluates how crashworthiness countermeasures can reduce fatalities and injuries in motor vehicle crashes. Research begins with understanding the causes and biomechanics of crash-induced injuries, drawing on real-world data and detailed case investigations from NHTSA's Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN). Based on identified safety needs, the program conducts experimental biomechanics research and advances the development of crash testing tools, including anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) and human body models (HBMs). These tools are applied in the development of new crash test protocols and enhanced injury metrics--key outputs of the program. Current efforts emphasize variations in sex, size, and age, with a focus on designing, evaluating, and documenting advanced crash test dummies. The program also supports the development of pedestrian impact test procedures to evaluate vehicle design countermeasures. Additionally, research includes crashworthiness considerations for Automated Driving System (ADS)-equipped vehicles, especially those with nontraditional seating Highway Safety Research provides the scientific foundation for developing and evaluating behavioral countermeasures aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of traffic crashes. The program supports state efforts to allocate resources effectively and meet national safety goals by tracking safe and unsafe driving behaviors and identifying emerging risks. NHTSA's research spans a range of safety issues, including impaired driving, occupant protection, distraction, law enforcement, emergency medical systems, licensing, and vulnerable road user safety. Activities include demonstration projects, education, and training initiatives. The program also funds the Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program (BTSCRP), managed by the Transportation Research Board, which delivers practical, ready-to-use solutions for traffic safety professionals. BTSCRP focuses on areas such as impaired and distracted driving, speed, seat belt use, vulnerable road users, and young and older driver safety. The research ' Leveraging public safety to improve traffic safety. ' Exploring advanced technologies to address traffic safety issues. NHTSA's research is expected to examine emphasis areas based on problem identification and research needs, with continued focus expected on drug-impaired driving and the behavioral impacts of new technologies. Efforts will include foundational research to define problems, developmental research to refine interventions, and hybrid projects exploring innovative concepts and their potential as safety programs. Modal IT Budget Request and Narrative

Extracted from NHTSA, p. 1. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

Contracts funded by this line

166 linked contracts. These are obligations — lifetime awarded money — and they are not comparable to the request above and are never added to it. No total is shown: an award linked to several lines is counted in full on each, so the sum would not be a fact.

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Linked contracts are a floor, not a census. Coverage is bounded by how distinctively a program is named and, for performer links, to RDT&E and Procurement — O&M and military construction publish no performers. Budget figures are FY2027 request dollars; contract figures are obligations. The two measure different things and must never be summed together.

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