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The Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge is a friendly competition between law enforcement agencies of a similar size and type. It is a program coordinated by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) Traffic Committee and supported by a NHTSA grant administered through the Illinois Department of Transportation, Bureau of Safety Projects and Engineering, as well as much-appreciated and vital funding from private partners. The Challenge rewards creativity, commitment, community engagement, and innovation in traffic safety. The program format is designed to encourage agencies to set comprehensive goals, develop positive traffic safety programs, share their experiences with others, and recognizes the best overall traffic safety programs in Illinois. The program targets the four major traffic safety priorities contributing to serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways: occupant protection, speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving. It recognizes agencies for the approach to and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities, and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts. The Challenge provides law enforcement agencies with an opportunity to make a significant difference in the communities they serve. Winning programs effectively combine many different strategies to reduce crashes and injuries in their jurisdiction. Ultimately, the Challenge is about saving lives and reducing traffic-related injuries.

Every department participates to some degree in traffic safety programs; so, entering the Challenge doesn’t require a great deal of extra commitment on an agency’s part. Merely taking the time to document current activity has produced many winners. Being recognized as a winner brings a great deal of positive awareness to a department, may yield benefits at budget time, and enhances an agency’s reputation as one which is “tough on crime" yet prioritizes safety on its roadways. Winners are recognized at a breakfast at the Midwest Security & Police Expo in August. In addition to trophies and awards, participating agencies are also awarded thousands of dollars in equipment and training. The grand prize is an emergency equipment package designed to fully equip a vehicle of the agency’s choosing.