DRIVER FACILITIES NOW LOANING INFANT CAR SEATS By SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE H. RYAN

In a news conference at the Chicago Auto Show last month, I helped kick off National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week by announcing that driver services facilities throughout Illinois would loan infant car seats in a program funded by the Allstate Foundation. I also announced my intention to seek tougher penalties for drunk drivers who endanger children.

Car seats, which can be used for infants up to 9 months old, are now being loaned at no charge to anyone who cannot afford a restraint seat, has not yet bought one or needs a seat on only a short-term basis.

These seats give our most vulnerable child passengers a fighting chance in a collision. Nearly 1,300 children under age 12 died in 1990 when riding in a car, and the highest death rate was among those who hadn't yet celebrated their first birthday.

We are fortunate to have the Allstate Foundation as a partner in our efforts to give children a safe ride. The Northbrook-based company provided the funding to purchase 1,000 infant seats for the loan program. The seats are available at all full-time driver services facilities on a first-come basis.

"Operation Precious Cargo"

The infant restraint effort is phase two in my "Operation Precious Cargo" program, mentioned recently in the "Illinois Municipal Review." Using a federal grant, the first phase of the program was designed to protect children under age 4 when parents or other drivers fail to secure them in a car seat or are not aware of the Illinois child restraint law.

Under phase one, uniformed investigators of the Secretary of State Police carry car seats on daily patrols, during anti-drunk driving enforcement patrols and at roadside safety checks. Rather than letting a child passenger continue to ride unrestrained, officers making arrests for car seat violations now loan drivers a seat and teach them how to use it. They offer free use of the seat, which must be returned to a driver services facility within 30 days. Investigators have loaned 65 seats since

March 1992 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 11

the program began in September 1991.

We also are looking at ways to provide funding for local police departments to purchase car seats to carry in their vehicles. This would be phase three of "Operation Precious Cargo."

Illinois law requires any person transporting a child under age 4 in a passenger car, pickup truck or recreational vehicle to secure the child properly in a child restraint system, except in a medical emergency. When the person transporting the child is not the parent or legal guardian, the parent or legal guardian must provide the car seat. The person transporting the child is not violating the law unless a seat was provided by the parent or legal guardian but was not used to transport the child.

Four- and 5-year-old children must be secured in car seats or seat belts. Drivers transporting children between the ages of 6 and 16 in the front seat of a vehicle must be sure the children are wearing a seat belt. The maximum fine for a first offense is $25.

Tougher Penalties for Drunk Drivers Who Endanger Children

I have proposed a felony penalty for any drunk driver found to be transporting children under age 16. This proposal would make drivers who endanger child passengers subject to the same felony penalty we now impose on drunk drivers operating a school bus.

Anyone willing to place the lives of innocent children in mortal danger by drinking and driving shouldn't get off with a misdemeanor, whether they're driving a school bus or the family car.

The initiatives in "Operation Precious Cargo" will help protect our youngest passengers. If my proposed felony penalty becomes law for drunk drivers who transport children under age 16, we will take another step toward making Illinois highways safer for young travelers. •

Page 12 / Illinois Municipal Review / March 1992