Car seat misuse rate still 78% in Colorado, despite new law, Colorado State Patrol says
According to CSP, there is still a 78% misuse rate of car seats. Car seat laws in Colorado changed back on Jan. 1, stating that children under 9 years old must be in a booster or car seat, and everyone must wear a seat belt.
Troopers say in most crashes, the person not wearing the seat belt or not properly secured in a car seat is the one who's most often or most seriously injured or killed. Without the seat belt, you can easily fly out of the window. If your child isn't in the correct car seat or properly secured, they could slam into the back of the seat in front of them or be ejected from the car in a crash.
Here's a reminder of the changes:
Rear-Facing Car Seat
Required if child is under 2 years old and under 40 lbs
Must go in the back seat if available
Can stay rear-facing longer if the car seat allows
Forward Facing Car Seat
Required if the child is:
Under 2 years old but over 40 pounds or
2 to 4 years old and over 20 pounds
Must go in the back seat if available
Can continue past age 4 if the car seat allows
Booster Seat
Required for kids 4 to 9 years old and at least 40 pounds
Must go in the back seat if available
Can continue past age 9 if needed
Seat Belt
For kids 9 to 18 years old
Must fit properly in the seat belt
Anyone in a vehicle shouldn't rely on the airbags to protect them in a crash.
"It's 100% that you need to have that seatbelt on," Colorado State Trooper Kent Trimbach said. "The most serious injuries we have are when people don't wear their seatbelts. They have a crash, which can be a rollover or even a spinout, and find themselves ejected out of the car. That's when the real serious injuries are happening."
A Colorado State Patrol child safety expert installs a car seat in accordance with a new state law, mandating car seat and seatbelt use that came into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
CBS
Troopers say if you need help installing a car seat, don't worry. You can head to CarSeatsColorado.com. All services are free and you can choose when you want your appointment.
It's very important to look out for counterfeit car seats, CSP says. The label may have misspellings or may not look right. When purchasing a car seat, go to a local store instead of online. Make sure the car seat has a red federal sticker on it. If the car seat is very cheap, it is probably a red flag.
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