(KFVS) - Illinois State Police statewide are reminding drivers to make safety their number one priority while driving during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

The Labor Day weekend is one the busiest driving periods and thousands of drivers are expected to hit the roadways and interstates nationwide.

ISP says Law Enforcement officials will push for ZERO fatalities by enforcing the four most common traffic violations: Speeding; DUI; seat belts; and distracted driving. 

"Drunk driving remains a serious, unacceptable threat to our families and our communities," said District 13 Commander Thomas Stehley. "Our campaign is clear – if you choose to drive drunk, you will be held accountable."

ISP officials will also be working closely with the Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center monitoring intelligence and special alerts looking for suspicious vehicles and criminal activity crossing state lines.

(KFVS) - Illinois Department of Transportation officials were joined Friday by representatives from the Ford Motor Company Fund, The Allstate Foundation, the Illinois Secretary of State and state police to kick-off the sixth year of Operation Teen Safe Driving at the state fairgrounds.

According to IDOT, the statewide program, led by their Division of Traffic Safety, is the first-of-its kind across the nation, and has contributed to a 48 percent decline in teen fatalities over the past five years.

"OTSD has proven to be a unique and impactful public-private partnership that utilizes the creativity of Illinois students to further boost traffic safety in schools and communities across the state," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. "The overwhelming value of peer-to-peer influence and innovation drives the program to accomplish continual success, and we encourage all interested high schools to participate this year as well."

(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."