| Wearing your seat belt and properly buckling up your child is not
just a good idea. In Illinois, it's the law. Each year in Illinois
and across the U.S., lives are needlessly lost simply because they
weren't buckled in. These are mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters.
If you won't buckle up for yourself, buckle up for those who love
you. |
A safety belt can only protect you if it is used -- and used properly.
- Provide enough safety belts for each person traveling in your
vehicle. Each person needs their own safety belt. Make sure all
safety belts are working properly.
- Show you care. Ask passengers in the front and rear seats to
use their safety belts. Most people will gladly buckle up if the
driver asks them to.
- Do not start your car until all safety belts are fastened.
- Adjust your safety belt so it fits snugly over your hip bones.
It should cross your lap low on the hips, not high across your
stomach.
- A shoulder belt should go over your shoulder and across your
body diagonally. It should never be worn under your arm.
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| Many owners of older-model cars install safety belts in their old
cars. Many new car owners refuse to use belts already installed. Why?
What distinguishes a safety belt user from a non-user? Here are a
few differences that we (and other safety belt researchers) have observed: |
| Safety Belt Non-Users |
- Can not really imagine that they would ever be involved
in a serious collision.
- Trust their car; hope road conditions and other
drivers will not give them trouble.
- May have a touch of claustrophobia, and do not like
to feel restricted.
- Think that if they are lucky they will be "thrown
clear."
- Are afraid of being trapped in their car in case
of fire or submersion.
- Think it is unnecessary to use safety belts.
- Say safety belts are hard on their clothes.
- Feel safe on short trips, but buckle up on longer
trips or when driving on interstate highways.
- Sometimes intend to use their belt, but forget.
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| Safety Belt Users |
- Think that crashes are common and could happen to
anyone.
- Are self-reliant and prepare for highway dangers
in a variety of ways.
- Like to feel they are part of the car; feel loose
and lost when unbelted.
- Know ejection is bad luck, 4 times out of 5.
- Know fire or submersion is rare; being knocked helpless
is the real danger.
- Think it is childish to refuse proven protection.
- Rate care of person more important than clothes.
- Realize most crashes occur near home and on local
roads, not on well built interstate highways.
- Make buckling up a matter of habit.
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| The rollover simulator is designed to demonstrate the importance
of wearing safety seat belts. Two life-size dummies, an adult and
a child are placed in the truck cab unbelted. To simulate a rollover
accident, the cab is mechanically rotated, which causes the dummies
to be ejected. The dummies are returned to the cab and secured with
safety seat belts. Again the cab is rotated and the dummies remain
safely in the cab. To schedule a rollover demonstration for your school
or group please contact the Safety Education Section office at (217)
524-2525 or contact your Illinois State Police District Headquarters. |
In Illinois, the law states that each driver and front seat passenger
of a motor vehicle must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat
safety belt.
Provides that whenever a person is transporting a child under age
8, the person is responsible for properly securing the child in an
appropriate child restraint system, which includes a booster seat.
Every person, when transporting a child 8 years of age or older, but
under age 16, is responsible for properly securing that child in a
seat belt. If the vehicle used to transport children under eight years
of age is equipped with lap belts only in the back seat and the child
weighs more than 40 pounds, the child may be transported in the back
seat wearing a lap belt only. If a combination lap and shoulder belt
is available, the child must be secured in a booster seat.
The Illinois Graduated Licensing System requires all passengers under
19 years to buckle-up when riding in a vehicle being driven by a person
under the age of 18. Any person under the age of 18
who receives a graduated driver’s license, for the first six
months of the license or until the person reaches the age of 18,
whichever occurs sooner; the person may not drive with more than
one person in the vehicle who is under the age of 20 unless they
are siblings, children, step-siblings, and step children of the
driver.
Also, no person may operate any 1965 or later model vehicle unless
the front seats are equipped with two sets of safety belts.A child
must be protected under these Child Passenger Protection Act guidelines: |
- under the age of eight, secure in a child safety seat.
- eight years of age or more, but less than 16 must be secured
in a seat belt or child safety seat.
- 16- and 17-year-olds must be secured by a safety belt when the
vehicle they are riding in is driven by a person under the age
of 18.
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| The Child Passenger Protection Act was established to protect the
health and safety of children through the proper use of "approved
child restraint systems."Parents or legal guardians of a child under
eight are responsible for providing an approved child safety seat
to anyone who transports his or her child. |
| A violation of this act is a petty offense, and the first violation
shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $50, waived upon proof
of possession of an approved child passenger restraint system defined
under this act. A subsequent violation of this Act is a petty offense
punishable by a fine of not more than $100. |
Any child restraint system sold at the many department and discount
stores are approved seats that meet the U.S. Department of Transportation
Standards. Make sure to send in the seat registration card so the
manufacture can reach you in case of a recall. Avoid buying seats
at second hand shops and garage sales as you do not know the history
of the seat.
"Approved child restraint systems" refers to any device which meets
the standards of the United States Department of Transportation. |
