IFB Launches Safe Driving Campaign

Farm Bureaus of Illinois help launch a safe driving campaign for rural roads.

Since 2008, roadway collisions have been the second leading cause of Illinois farm-related deaths. To combat this problem, the Farm Bureaus of Illinois, Illinois Department of Transportation, and Illinois State Police launched Caution: Slow Down, Share the Road, a rural roadway safety awareness program.

"The Illinois Farm Bureau Board endorsed the effort to increase awareness about rural roadway safety. We believe this program will save lives," said Terry Pope, Illinois Farm Bureau District 9 Director. "This statewide initiative exemplifies our strength as a grassroots organization striving to serve the interests of our members. This effort originated with members of two county Farm Bureaus who recognized a problem and acted to resolve it."  

Caution: Slow Down, Share the Road began with members in Adams County Farm Bureau and Madison County Farm Bureau, who wanted to raise awareness about the unique dangers of rural driving. The idea quickly caught on in five additional counties. The success of this initiative at the county level and the need for safer rural roadways triggered the statewide effort.

As a part of the campaign, banners will appear along rural roadways throughout the state to remind rural motorists and farmers to look out for each other. Increasing efforts for education and awareness will decrease the number of accidents that occur and make rural roadways safer for everyone. 

"One driving fatality is one too many. We need to educate the public about safely navigating rural roadways," said Illinois State Police Education Officer Mike Kindhart. "With drivers being distracted more and more with electronic devices, the need for such a campaign is even more important."

Twenty-nine Illinois residents have died in roadway collisions with farm machinery during the last 5 years. Rural motorists accounted for all deaths except 3, who were farmers. Through the efforts of the Caution: Slow Down, Share the Road campaign, project partners aim to reduce rural roadway deaths to zero.