State and Community Highway Safety/National Priority Safety Program - Non-Enforcement Programs: Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IL) Grant

State and Community Highway Safety/National Priority Safety Program - Non-Enforcement Programs: Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IL) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Illinois Department of Transportation
Last Updated: March 02, 2026

Summary

The Impaired Driving Prevention Program in Illinois aims to enhance roadway safety by addressing alcohol and drug-related impaired driving. With a funding amount of $8,000,000, the program focuses on raising public awareness, implementing prevention strategies, and providing resources to law enforcement. It encourages community involvement and educational initiatives to reduce traffic fatalities and promote responsible behaviors. The program supports various eligible applicants, including local governments and nonprofits, to foster a collaborative approach to combating impaired driving.

Overview

NOTE: Your organization must be registered in the Grantee Portal. Non-Enforcement Programs This funding opportunity houses most of the non-enforcement programs. Please see the specifications for each program explained below. Please note that applications are not limited to these programs. Child Passenger Safety Resource Center (CPSRC)DUI Court ProgramImpaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP)Injury Prevention Program (IP)Law Enforcement Liaison Program (LEL)Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP) This grant is administered by the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) within the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). IDOT serves as the federally-required State Highway Safety Office for the state of Illinois. Funding amount: $8,000,000.00 Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP) Project Goal To create a coordinated effort to address alcohol and drug-related traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Proposal Guidance Applications should focus on one or both of the following objectives: Prevention Projects:The objective of this activity is designed to increase public awareness and knowledge about alcohol and drug-impaired driving, promote safe and healthy behavior among underage and/or adult individuals, and to increase the awareness of the consequences associated with a DUI arrest, other sanctions for impaired driving, or an impaired driving motor vehicle crash.Public information and prevention education programs should consist of comprehensive, coordinated efforts that are designed to present a clear message that fosters the attitude that driving impaired by alcoholic beverages, cannabis, and/or other impairing drugs or substances is unacceptable, criminal behavior. These messages should be sustained and emphasize existing holiday enforcement campaigns and should also occur throughout the grant year.Additional prevention initiatives include educational programs and activities. These may occur through schools, community groups and/or religious organizations and may include parent education, formalized curricula, coalition development/community involvement, and peer education programs.Community outreach prevention activities may include:employer programsresponsible alcohol and or cannabis sales/service (including enforcement efforts)policies and/or educational programs to reduce alcohol, other drug and traffic safety problems on college campusestransportation alternativesadult and underage drinking/substance abuse preventionunderage and/or adult educational programsschool-based activitiesinstitution of working relationships with school health and guidance personnel as a means of providing information to students about a variety of traffic safety and health behaviorsdevelop and conduct alcohol, cannabis, other drug and/or impairing substances training sessions for a variety of professional disciplinesestablish and support student-led safety and/or prevention-focused clubs and activitiesCriminal Justice Projects:The IDP program can include criminal justice projects that provide necessary resources and training to law enforcement, prosecutors, and additional judicial personnel. Applicants may propose a comprehensive program that will effectively utilize resources to combat impaired driving.Criminal Justice activities may include:Full-time ARIDE and/or DRE law enforcement officer and associated costsunderage alcohol and or cannabis sales law enforcement activities and associated costseffective use of criminal justice, medical or other professionals through presentations in the classroom or the design of and delivery of training courses and materialslaw enforcement impaired driving traininglaw enforcement forensic phlebotomy activitiesforensic toxicology efforts Project Examples Community outreach programs include, but are not limited to: Communities should promote responsible alcohol and/or cannabis service policies and practices in the retail alcohol service industry through laws, regulations, and policies, with appropriate publicity, signage, and enforcement. Communities are also encouraged to promote alternative transportation programs that enable impaired persons to reach their destinations without driving and risking harm to themselves and others.A comprehensive alternative transportation program uses a community-wide approach addressing all types of drinking  and cannabis-use situations (in commercial establishments and private homes) with one or more transportation alternatives. Two (2) types of alternative transportation programs are designated driver and safe rides programs.In a designated driver program, the designated driver for a group agrees not to drink alcoholic beverages, use cannabis or other drugs and/or impairing substances so that all participants can arrive safely at their destination. Alcohol servers and social hosts who support and sponsor designated driver programs usually provide non-alcoholic beverages free to the designated driver. Alternatively, safe rides programs provide free or reduced-price rides to drinkers using taxis, buses or private automobiles. Employer programs include, but are not limited to: model policies regarding impaired driving, seat belt use, and/or other traffic safety issuesemployee awareness and education activitiesmanagement training to recognize and deal with alcohol and drug impairment/abuseeducation and substance use treatment programs for employees. Responsible alcohol services include, but are not limited to: promotion of alcohol and/or cannabis server training programsenforcement programs to prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis to minors (e.g., “Cops in Shops” and “Shoulder Tap” operations)adequate staffing to enforce existing alcoholic beverage control and regulationsawareness of dram shop provisions as they relate to individuals and providers Criminal Justice programs include: give prosecutors the skills and resources to obtain convictions and seek appropriate and effective sanctions for offenders (reduce number of plea bargains)ensure screening of all high-risk DUI offenders for substance abuseprovide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officers regarding one or more of the following: SFST, ARIDE, DRE, and/or phlebotomyfacilitate uniformity and consistency in prosecution and adjudication of impaired driving casesgive judges the skills and resources necessary to appropriately adjudicate impaired driving casesensure that judges are well versed in DUI issues and prepared to adjudicate youthful offenderseducates medical facility personnel regarding no civil liability for the truthful reporting of blood and urine tests in DUI casesencourage reporting of blood and urine testsassist with the development, implementation or expansion of “No-refusal” search warrant and/or e-search warrant programsToxicology activitiesoral fluid and/or other testing for DUI drug identificationpersonal services up to  time and a half in overtime for DRE callouts

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible ApplicantsCounty GovernmentsCity or township governmentsSpecial District GovernmentsIndependent School DistrictsPublic and State controlled institutions of higher educationNative American tribal governments (Federally recognized)Native American tribal organizations (not Federally recognized)Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excludes institutions of higher education)Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (excludes institutions of higher education)Private institutions of higher educationIndividualsFor profit organizations (excludes small businesses)Small BusinessesAdditional Eligibility InformationLocal law enforcement agencieslocal civic organizationspublic and private schools colleges and universitieshospitalspublic health departmentslocal governmental agenciesnonprofit groupsunder limited circumstances private individuals and businesses.

Ineligibility

IDOT will not reimburse for paid media campaigns. (ex. Radio and/or TV PSA/media spots development of a PSA/advertisement).DUI Courts shall not apply under this program.Alcohol and drugs for training purposes are not allowed for purchase.Please be aware that these grants are designed to be seed grants and funding programs indefinitely should not be expected.