Outstanding work by Eastern’s office of safety programs was recognized by the Illinois Department of Transportation with the Award of Excellence in Highway Safety as a part of the Lifesavers Conference in November.

As a part of the IDOT sponsored Illinois Lifesavers Conference in November, Eastern won the award for its work in safety awareness in the past decade.

Eastern “implements programing that helps promote traffic safety in Illinois,” Cathy Kimball, the state coordinator for the child passenger safety program, said Tuesday.

IDOT works with Eastern as well as other organizations, throughout the state to promote traffic safety awareness, which is what Eastern’s traffic safety programs do, Kimball said.

Kimball said the office of safety programs works directly with law enforcement agencies in the state, county, cities and towns to reduce the number of fatal accidents on the road. They strive to educate college campus administrations on alcohol awareness and prevention in hopes that colleges will utilize safety techniques and reduce drinking and driving.

In addition, the office of safety programs works to implement the use of the child safety seats. By enforcing seat belt usage and holding alcohol traffic safety conferences aimed directly at college campuses, the programs will bring Illinois and Eastern one step closer to safer roads, Kimball said.

The qualifications for recipients of the IDOT award are dedication to safety programs and working hard to make the roads safer for all people, a press release said.

“We are grateful for the recognition of our project by IDOT,” Becky Markwell, director of safety programs, said Tuesday.