Information courtesy of the Colorado Department of Transportation
Did you know more than half of car seats in Colorado aren’t installed correctly?
Car seats can be complicated, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Car Seats Colorado, a joint effort of the Colorado State Patrol, CDOT and local agencies, provides free safety resources for parents, grandparents and caregivers of small children.
From the Car Seats Colorado website you can:
- Make an appointment with a certified child passenger safety technician at one of several Douglas County locations
- Enter your child’s age, height and weight to find a car seat
- Register a seat to be notified in case of recall or other safety notices
Data from 2022 showed a concerning 66% car seat misuse rate in Colorado — which means approximately 3,000 of Colorado’s children are left vulnerable in the event of a crash.
The most common car seat mistakes include improperly installing the car seat, selecting the wrong seat for a child’s height and weight and improper harnessing. Proper use of car seats is shown to significantly reduce the risk of injury and death in a crash.
Last year was another fatal year on Colorado roadways, with 757 lives lost. Seven of those deaths were children traveling unrestrained. Car Seats Colorado is on a mission to ensure that every child is properly restrained. All Colorado parents and caregivers are encouraged to check that their children are properly secured and to seek assistance if they have any questions or concerns about car seat safety.