Illinois Tollway, State Police Host Operation Kids Event

From the Illinois Tollway:
September 26 2019

ILLINOIS TOLLWAY AND ILLINOIS STATE POLICE OPERATION KID

OFFERS FAMILY FUN AND SAFETY EVENT SEPTEMBER 28 IN SCHAUMBURG

Free safety seat checks and kids ID cards at K.I.S.S. event at IKEA in Schaumburg

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15, working to keep children safe every trip, every time through Operation Kid 2019, are hosting a free Kids’ Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event on Saturday, September 28, at the IKEA in Schaumburg.

“K.I.S.S. events make staying safe quick and convenient for parents, grandparents and caregivers and fun for kids,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director José Alvarez. “Families can get their child safety seats checked, pick up free ID cards for their kids and enjoy other fun activities.”

The next Operation Kid K.I.S.S. event is scheduled Saturday, September 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the IKEA, 1800 E. McConnor Parkway in Schaumburg. Safety seat inspections will take place in the far south section of the parking lot closest to McConnor Parkway, while kids' ID cards will be processed in the first floor lobby area inside the store. Highlights include:

• Child safety seat inspections and installations.
• Free identification cards for children ages 3 and older.
• Touch-a-truck display featuring hands-on exploration of a Tollway H.E.L.P. truck and snowplow.
• Coloring station and activities to keep kids entertained.

Operation Kid 2019 – It’s as easy as 1-2-3!

1 – Find an event near you.

The Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are hosting free K.I.S.S. events at convenient locations throughout Northern Illinois. A complete list is available on the Tollway’s website at illinoistollway.com.

2 – Make sure your child’s safety seat is properly installed.

Certified child passenger safety technicians inspect child safety seats and help parents and caregivers with proper installation. Some of the more common problems District 15 inspectors pinpoint include child facing the wrong direction, too much slack in harness straps, not properly securing the car seat, improper child restraint for the child’s weight and the need for booster seats for older children.

3 – Get a photo ID card for your child.

Specially trained professionals take photographs and fingerprints of children 3 and older and gather vital information to include on an ID card that parents and caregivers can reference in an emergency.

If a child gets lost, an up-to-date, good-quality photo along with fingerprints and descriptive information can help law enforcement locate the child.

“Operation Kid offers a convenient way for drivers to make sure they’re complying with Illinois law,” said District 15 Acting Commander Dominic Chiappini. “The safest place for infants, toddlers and young children to ride is in the back seat with the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight.”

Illinois law requires that all children under age 8 must be properly secured in an appropriate child restraint system when riding in a vehicle with family or other caregivers. In addition, as of January 1, 2019, children under age 2 years are required by Illinois law to ride rear-facing, unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall, to protect their developing muscles and bones.

Properly installed child safety seats save lives and significantly reduce injuries in the event of a crash. Yet, Illinois State Police find that more than 90 percent of child safety seats they inspect are improperly installed.

For more information about Operation Kid 2019 and to see additional activities at each event, visit the Tollway’s website.

About the Illinois Tollway

The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 294 miles of roadways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80) and the Illinois Route 390 Tollway.

This press release was produced by the Illinois Tollway. The views expressed here are the author’s own.