The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) said it has received a $100,000 grant from the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) to support state efforts aimed at preventing drowsy driving.

The grants will be awarded to state highway safety offices through a competitive application process that will be announced in early 2017, according to GHSA.

This week is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week.

“There are a tremendous number of challenges that the highway safety community faces in addressing drowsy driving,” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “For many states, a lack of funding has been a stumbling block. This grant will enable states to develop and implement innovative strategies to better assess and combat this problem.”

NRSF, a GHSA partner for more than two decades, has long been committed to educating the public about drowsy driving.

“With an average of 6,400 people dying in drowsy driving crashes each year, this is an issue that must be addressed,” said Michelle Anderson, director of operations for NRSF. “We’re excited to provide states funding to research, combat, and educate the public about the dangers of drowsy driving.”