Car Seat Check Up

Iowa Child Safety Seat and Seat Belt Laws

Iowa law requires that babies under one year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds be secured in a rear-facing car seat. The law further requires that children under age 6 be secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat, not a seat belt alone. Iowa law also requires that children over age 6 but under age 11 be secured in a booster seat or seat belt.

You can learn more about the law here.

A GUIDE TO THE IOWA CHILD RESTRAINT LAW

You can read the bill here.

Iowa Department of Public Safety - Car Seat Laws (PDF)

Guidelines and Recommendations

Seat Smarts - Child Passenger Safety

Iowa Child and Youth Seatbelt Law Upgrade Initiative

SF 34 – the bill that requires seatbelt use for youth through the age of 17 - passed the Senate last year and right now it is in the House. You can show your support by downloading this form and returning it to Iowa Safe Kids as soon as possible.

CPS Support Form

As a supporter, you will receive regular updates and requests for action regarding this legislation. These requests can include calling, writing and emailing legislators, attending local forums, participating in lobby day and encouraging others to do the same.

Street Smarts

Many young chilren cross streets alone. Yet very few under age 10 can deal safely with traffic. Their age and size put them at risk. Here's why.

• Young children believe if they can see a driver, a driver can see them.
• They think cars can stop instantly.
• They can't tell where sounds come from.
• Few can judge how fast traffic is moving.
• Their field of vision is one-third that of adults.
• They don't recognize danger or react to it.
• Very young children see cars as freindly, living creatures.

Children should learn street safety as soon as they are ready to walk outdoors. But they need your help.

Kids learn traffic safety by watching and doing. Go for walks with your children. Be a role model. Practice these safety steps.

Supervise your children until they show you they are safe pedestrains.

Buckle Up

If you always buckle your safety belt, you've made a smart move. If you sometimes buckle up or if you never buckle up, you're risking your life.

In a car, your best protection against getting hurt is a safety belt. It's true. Safety belts save lives.

DO IT RIGHT!

Keep the shoulder strap snug. If the shoulder belt crosses your face or throat, then you are too small to correctly use only the safety belt and should use a car booster seat.* Never wear a should belt under your arm or behind your back. Wear your lap belt snug, buckled low on your hips. Keep it off your stomach.

*Car booster seats are for kids who weigh about 40 to 60/80 pounds.

Railroad Safety

Safe Kids USA and CN aim to raise awareness of safety at railroad crossings and encourage teachers, parents and caregivers to teach children how to cross railroad tracks safely.

Safety at Railroad Crossings

Parents should teach children that trains and railroad tracks may be dangerous places. Railroad deaths and injuries are often preventable. Children should learn to never play on or near railroad tracks, and, if they must cross tracks, how to do so as safely as possible.

Important Statistics

Each year, an average of 916 people are killed and 8,300 are injured in collisions with trains in the United States. Collisions involve either trains and people or trains and motor vehicle occupants.

In 2005, a total of 39 children ages 15 and under were killed in a train collision.

Trespassing is Dangerous

In 2006, trespassing incidents resulted in 530 deaths. Trespassing fatalities occur when a person crosses over a non-public railroad crossing and is struck by a train.

Trespassing incidents include illegally traveling on or beside railroad tracks either by foot, bicycle, car, ATV, snowmobile, or any other vehicle. Trespassing also includes taking a shortcut across railroad tracks or property at any time.