Car crashes continue to be a leading cause of death and injury for children in Colorado. In 2024, nearly three-quarters of car seats in the state were found to be installed or used incorrectly. To address this issue, Car Seats Colorado, WeeCycle, and AAA organized free car seat checks across metro Denver during Child Passenger Safety Month.
An event held at Central Park Recreation Center aimed to make safety checks more accessible by bringing certified technicians directly to families. The technicians ensured that car seats were properly installed and adjusted according to each child’s needs and current state laws.
“According to safety data, correctly using a car or booster seat can mean the difference between life and death for children in a crash,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “No parent wants to get it wrong, but many simply don’t know what is required. We are committed to making sure caregivers have the knowledge and tools to protect their children every time they are traveling on the road.”
Colorado updated its child passenger safety laws earlier this year. The new rules raise the age requirement for mandatory use of a car seat or booster from 8 to 9 years old and require children to remain in rear-facing car seats until age 2. Children must now also be properly restrained with a seat belt until they turn 18, an increase from the previous requirement of 16.
“We owe it to our kids to do everything we can to protect them — and that starts with installing and using their car seats correctly,” said Trooper Kent Trimbach, program coordinator for Car Seats Colorado. “Car seats, boosters and seat belts save lives, but only when used the right way. Babies and toddlers are entirely dependent on adults for proper restraint, so it’s up to parents and caregivers to make sure they’re as safe as possible every time they’re in a car.”
The law also requires that children under 9 ride in the back seat secured by an appropriate child restraint system. Not following these requirements is considered a primary violation; drivers can be stopped and ticketed if an officer observes an unrestrained or improperly restrained child.
These legislative changes bring Colorado’s regulations into alignment with recent research on child passenger safety. Data from federal agencies show that booster seats lower the risk of serious injury among older children by nearly half compared with seat belts alone. For infants and toddlers riding in passenger vehicles, proper restraints reduce fatalities by over half.
Car Seats Colorado advises parents that selecting restraints should depend on a child’s size rather than age alone. One frequent error is moving a child out of a booster too soon or choosing equipment unsuitable for their development stage.
During the most recent Click It or Ticket campaign in 2025, authorities issued 368 citations related to improper child restraint use.
Families seeking guidance can visit CarSeatsColorado.com for information about inspection stations, registration options, installation instructions, or updates on current laws regarding child passenger safety. Those who cannot afford a car seat may find assistance through programs run by WeeCycle, Children’s Hospital Colorado, or SafeKids Colorado Springs.
