WILLIAMSON COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies are partnering to kick off "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" in time for the Thanksgiving weekend.

IDOT says drivers could see over 1,700 safety belt enforcement zones and 40 roadside safety checks conducted by over 200 law enforcement agencies.

“Traffic safety is a central and inseparable focus of IDOT’s strategic mission- to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity, and demonstrate respect for our environment,” said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider. “During Thanksgiving weekend, IDOT and law enforcement agencies throughout the state will strongly promote safe driving by reminding motorists to buckle up and drive sober, every trip, every time.”

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday deer vs. car collisions declined in 2010 and remind drivers to be alert for deer along the roads during one of the most active times of the year.

IDOT says the number of car-deer crashes dropped to 17,135 in 2010, a decrease from 18,849 in 2009 and the lowest total since 1999. According to the latest IDOT statistics released Tuesday, 77 percent of crashes happened on rural roads and 67 percent during periods of darkness.

“Deer crashes can be especially difficult to avoid," said Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider. "The best measures to avoid accidents and injuries are to  slow down, wear a safety belt and remain alert this fall driving through areas where deer are likely to be seen. The encouraging news is that collisions with deer in Illinois continue to decline.

(KFVS) - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is accepting applications for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) subcommittee of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council (GRAC).

The subcommittee will work to improve EMS services throughout rural Illinois.  It's charged with identifying barriers to providing adequate EMS service in rural Illinois. Among those challenges are long ambulance response times that put patients at risk and recruiting and retaining the qualified emergency medical service personnel necessary to provide life-saving care to citizens in need, according to Lt. Gov.