(KFVS) - Illinois State Police Captain Thomas Stehley, District 13 Commander, is reminding drivers to avoid the Fatal Four in an effort to reduce the increasing number of deadly traffic crashes.

ISP calls the most common traffic violations the Fatal Four. They include speeding, driving under the influence, not wearing seat belts and distracted driving.

The National Safety Council reports traffic deaths are up 11 percent nation-wide in the first four months of 2012. ISP says Illinois is also seeing an increase in motor-vehicle deaths.

“I would rather see more voluntary compliance from the motoring public than hand out more citations,” said Captain Stehley. “We all need to do our part to prevent fatal traffic crashes. We need to buckle up, slow down, refrain from driving distracted and always remember never drive intoxicated."

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police recently announced their plans to heighten enforcement efforts leading up and through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

According to IDOT, hundreds more safety belt enforcement zones and other patrols are planned over the historically and heavily-traveled holiday weekend. In addition, they also launched a new Click It or Ticket public service announcement to further remind motorists the importance of buckling up.

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Department of Transportation are reminding drivers to be alert for farm equipment.

They say because of the unseasonably warm and dry weather, many farmers were able to finish their field preparations early this year and are now ready to start planting. That means farm traffic on rural roads will increase drastically the next few weeks, much sooner than usual.

“Field work got off to an early start this year because of the mild weather,” IDOA Acting Director Bob Flider said.  “I want to encourage motorists to drive carefully and to be alert for slow-moving farm vehicles on rural roadways until the work is complete.”