PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs continues to be a problem in Illinois—even given the strong history of prevention and enforcement activities undertaken by the state.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Operation Safe Passage program was initiated in 1997 to reduce injuries and fatalities resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). The program's primary objective was to coordinate the efforts of law enforcement agencies throughout the state to achieve this goal.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The City of Hoffman Estates has for many years, with its small police department of only 50 patrol officers, led Illinois in DUI enforcement activities, making more than 3,000 DUI arrests during the last five years, from 1992 through 1997. It was congruous therefore, that Hoffman Estates take the lead in developing a program to tackle the problem of impaired driving. The Operation Safe Passage program which the Hoffman Estates Police Department (HEPD) developed was simple in concept; however, it was an ambitious program that needed the cooperation and collaboration of numerous law enforcement agencies across the state. Operation Safe Passage was designed to provide safe passage through Illinois to motorists traveling during holidays. The primary strategy for implementation of the program consisted of the simultaneous employment of DUI enforcement activities (saturation patrols and check-points) across the state, during a focused time period, such as any of several holidays. Operation Safe Passage consists of the following activities:

• The HEPD contacted more than 100 law enforcement agencies in Illinois, and requested their participation in a statewide DUI enforcement program
• HEPD acted as a clearinghouse for coordinating the efforts of, and disseminating information to, the various agencies involved in the program
• The HEPD developed and disseminated data collection instruments to the participants
• Officers from the HEPD worked with other agencies in overcoming barriers to local participation in the program, such as how to provide the extra coverage necessary to staff the program, adjusting of scheduled, local DUI efforts to coincide with the larger, statewide program, and identifying sources of funds to support overtime
• Two Operation Safe Passage programs were conducted in 1997: the first during Labor Day weekend, and the second just prior to Christmas