WASHINGTON --- Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Senator Daniel K. Akaka announced yesterday that Hawaii will receive nearly $1.2 million in federal funds for traffic safety programs.

Nearly 87 percent of the funds – $1,036,151 – is designated to support highway safety initiatives aimed at reducing traffic accidents that result in deaths, injuries, or property damage, the two U.S. Senators from Hawaii said in a news release.

The State must share at least 40 percent of the funds with Hawaii's four counties, according to the news release.

Hawaii's allocation of more than $1 million for its highway safety grant is based on a formula that takes into account the percentage of Hawaii's population in comparison to the population of the entire nation, and the ratio of Hawaii's public road miles to the nation's.

Hawaii was also awarded an "occupant protection incentive grant" of $156,643 for its efforts to curb deaths and injuries that occur because the victims were riding without seat belts or were improperly restrained.