`OPERATION PRECIOUS CARGO' EMPHASIZES USE OF CHILD SEATS

CAIRO, Ill. -- The three infant car seats allocated to the Cairo Drivers License Examination Station didn't last long.

"They went out in a hurry," said a spokesman for the office. "We've been contacting other drivers exam facilities to see if they have extra seats. We have several requests for the seats."

The situation is the same in Union County at the Anna facility. Two other facilities at Metropolis and Vienna still have seats on hand.

The infant car seats are being loaned at no charge to anyone who cannot afford a restraint seat, or to persons who need the seat on a short-term basis. It is part of a new Illinois program, "Operation Precious Cargo."

The program, announced recently by Illinois Secretary of State George H. Ryan, is funded by Allstate Foundation and provides the car seats for up to nine months on a first-come, first-serve basis.

"The seats were allocated to full-time drivers examination stations throughout the state," said Kim St. Aubin, a spokesman from Ryan's office.

"The response has been so great that we're looking at expanding the program," said St. Aubin Tuesday. "We're in the process of conducting a survey on participation in the program. If demand is there, we'll try to arrange to get more seats."

The initial program started with 1,000 car seats, which can be used for infants up to nine months old.

"These seats give our most vulnerable child passengers a fighting chance in a collision," said St. Aubin, who added that almost 1,300 children under age 12 died in 1990 traffic accidents. "Most of those deaths were among those who hadn't reached their first birthday."

The program was designed for parents who can't afford the seats, in addition to grandparents and other relatives who need the seats for only a short time.

The secretary of state announced the program after Illinois State Police wrapped up a third week of a seatbelt enforcement "blitz." Officers stepped up their enforcement of state laws requiring people to buckle up and secure their children in child restraint seats.

Troopers ticketed 123 parents for failing to have children secured in child restraint seats during the final week of the seatbelt blitz, while writing warnings to 56 others.

Officials estimate child restraint seats saved 222 lives in 1990 and 1,546 lives since 1982.

"This year, at least 1,000 babies will be riding Illinois highways more safely," said St. Aubin.

The first phase of Operation Precious Cargo, which aims at encouraging motorists to secure child passengers in seats or seat belts, placed child restraint seats in state police cars.

Rather than letting a child passenger ride unrestrained, officers making arrests for seat belt violations will loan drivers a car seat and teach them how to use it. The seat must be returned to a drivers license facility within 30 days.

Illinois law requires that children under age four must be secured in a car seat. Children ages 4 to 6 may be secured using seat belts.

Ryan has also proposed a felony penalty for any drunk driver found to be transporting children under 16.

The proposal would make drivers who endanger child passengers subject to the same felony penalty now imposed on drunk drivers operating a school bus.

"Anyone willing to place the lives of innocent children in mortal danger by drinking and driving shouldn't get off with a misdemeanor, whether they're driving a school bus, or the family car," said Ryan in announcing his proposal.