As kids, road trips are when we learn how to convert gazillions of miles into hours, and how to gut out long drives with mom’s road games, dad’s jokes, sibling squabbles, snacks, and singing. But the entertainment between pit stops waned and no matter the adventure, the most restless would lob that classic question over the front seat.
The answer was always the same, “No, not yet.” What that means in parent speak is no unbuckling because wearing our seat belts give everyone in the vehicle a fighting chance to survive a crash.
With road trips surging in popularity, a record number of Americans are choosing to drive to their vacation destination. Seat belts are a good idea on a marathon trip or a short errand. Iowa’s child restraint law sets the tone and serves as a guideline for teaching safety in your vehicle:
- Set a good example using a seat belt on every trip.
- A child under one year old and weighing less than 20 lbs. must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system.
- All children should be properly buckled up in a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt, whichever is appropriate for their age, height, and weight.
The next time your little co-pilot pipes up with “Are we there yet?”, take a deep breath and smile. Then sing the reasons why seat belts matter. Safety isn’t just a rule, it’s the best travel companion we’ve got. Enjoy the ride!
In 2025, in Iowa, 147 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of four since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 355 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, visit the daily fatality report.