Charles Jennissen, MD, the director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at University of Iowa Children's Hospital, at UI Hospitals and Clinics, recently received a SAFE KIDS Iowa award for his involvement in an effort to upgrade Iowa's child passenger safety law.

"About two and one-half years ago, the Iowa legislature with the encouragement of child safety advocates upgraded our Iowa child passenger restraint law. Presently, children under one year and weighing less than 20 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint device. All children less than six years of age must be secured in a safety seat or booster seat--not a seat belt alone. And all children from ages six to 11 must be secured in a child restraint system such as a booster seat or by a safety belt. This applies to all seating positions," he says.

Jennisssen says that when this law was passed, legislators elected not to include children 11 through 17 years of age. "Presently, this age group is not required to wear a seat belt when riding in the back seat of a vehicle. This places them at a much higher risk for severe injury and death should they be involved in a crash. Iowa safety experts, including me, advocate that these children should be required to be restrained in a seat belt no matter where their position is in the vehicle.

"Children from 11 through 17 years of age are as important to help protect as younger children. They are just as likely to suffer serious consequences in a motor vehicle crash, if not more so. Many teens are riding with peers who are really just learning to drive and are at increased risk. In fact, teen drivers are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

"Requiring all children 17 and under to wear a seat belt regardless of seating position will not only save lives and decrease serious injuries, but will continue the routine of proper vehicle restraint and seat belt use from childhood to adolescence and, hopefully, into adulthood.

"Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate or even fail to recognize hazardous or dangerous driving situations. They are more likely to speed, run red lights, make illegal turns and drive after using alcohol or drugs. In a national survey conducted in 2003, 30 percent of teens reported they had ridden with a driver who had been drinking alcohol within the previous month.

"Distractions such as cell phone use and the presence of other teen passengers also increase the risk," Jennisssen says. "Most importantly, compared with other age groups, teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use.   In 2003, 18 percent of high school students reported they rarely or never wear seat belts when riding with someone else.

"At this year's annual Iowa Child and Youth Injury Prevention conference, I was honored to be awarded the Iowa SAFE KIDS "People Who Make a Difference" award. SAFE KIDS Iowa is part of worldwide organization whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. There are more than 450 coalitions in 16 countries that help bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families.  

"In Iowa, we have seven local coalitions including one based here in Johnson County and another in Linn County.

"I believe any one could forward a nomination to SAFE KIDS Iowa for this award. I was selected after being nominated by Kathy Leggett who is the director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. I want to applaud the SAFE KIDS organizations throughout the state and the many volunteers who work so hard to make Iowa safer for our children. I certainly encourage all Iowans to make the safety of our children one of their highest priorities.

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