PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
In 1996, alcohol-related fatalities represented 40.9 percent of the total traffic fatalities for the year, nationally—the same as for the State of Kansas. For Kansas, this statistic represented an increase in the number of alcohol-related fatalities from 123 in 1995 to 127 in 1996; a statistic deemed unacceptable by state and local law enforcement officials looking to decrease alcohol-related crash fatalities.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Sobriety Checkpoint Program was the reduction of the number of alcohol- related fatalities in Kansas. The following objectives helped plan the activities which would be instrumental in reaching this goal:

• Provide appropriate training to law enforcement professionals
• Increase the public visibility of alcohol enforcement efforts
• Increase local participation in alcohol enforcement initiatives

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Based on examination of data and observations of driving behavior, the Kansas Highway Patrol determined that increasing the numbers of law enforcement officers trained and qualified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) could be instrumental in meeting program goals and objectives. It was theorized that, as more officers were trained in SFST at the state level, more agencies at the local level would be encouraged to participate in increased enforcement activities related to the reduction of alcohol-related fatalities. This increase in enforcement activities would then, in turn, increase public awareness of the problems related to impaired driving and positively affect the risky behaviors of the driving public.

From October 1996 through September 1997, staff comprising the Breath Alcohol Unit of the Kansas Highway Patrol Training Academy conducted Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) Detection/Standardized Field Sobriety Testing training to 395 officials at the state and local levels of law enforcement, including 30 supervisors. In addition to the training, the Training Academy staff provided support and assistance in coordinating and conducting sobriety checkpoints in 30 counties, representing 63 local jurisdictions. The increase in sobriety checkpoints also increased the visibility of DWI enforcement activities to encompass 71.66 percent of the population of the state.