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Illinois State Police reminds everyone to stay safe on rural roads

By WEEK Reporter
March 13, 2013 Updated Mar 13, 2013 at 6:55 PM CDT

PEORIA, Ill. -- With the planting season almost underway, officials want to make sure everyone stays safe when they travel on rural roads.

Wednesday, Illinois State Police, along with the Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Department of Transportation, unveiled their new "slow down, share the road" campaign.

The new campaign will place banners on roads throughout the state, reminding drivers to be on the lookout for farm equipment during the planting and harvesting seasons.

Officials say their goal is to raise awareness about the dangers of driving in rural areas when farm equipment is present on the road.

"We encourage motorists to be patient around farm time. We have to share the road with them. It's part of Illinios, they're going to be out there soon starting with spring planting season, and continue on through the summer and in the fall harvest season," Trooper Dustin Pierce said.

According to Illinois State Police, roadway collisions are the second leading cause of farm-related deaths in the state.

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