Free car seat safety checks will be offered across New Mexico on Saturday, September 27, as part of National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week. The initiative is organized by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) Traffic Safety Division in partnership with Safer New Mexico Now.
State law in New Mexico requires children under seven years old or weighing less than 60 pounds to ride in safety seats. Children aged seven to twelve must use a booster seat until an adult seat belt fits them correctly.
The events are designed to assist parents and caregivers with proper car seat installation and selection. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) will provide individualized guidance at each location.
“We understand how overwhelming it can be to figure out if your car seat is installed correctly or even the right one for your child,” said Shannon Glendenning, director for the Traffic Safety Division. “That’s why we host the safety checks, to support families and give them the tools they need to help keep their children safe on the road.”
Motor vehicle crashes remain a major cause of death among children under 15, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Proper use of child safety seats can reduce fatal injury risk by 71% for infants in rear-facing seats under age one, by 54% for toddlers in forward-facing seats ages one to four, and booster seats lower injury risks by 45% for children ages four to eight compared to using seat belts alone.
During these events, CPSTs will spend about half an hour per seat demonstrating installation techniques, reviewing safety standards, and answering questions. Parents will also learn how to avoid common mistakes and ensure that both their child and vehicle are compatible with the selected seat.
If any car seat is found expired, recalled, or unsafe during inspection, replacement seats will be available on-site. There may be a $35 fee for replacement seats; children must be present to qualify.
Participants are encouraged to bring their car seat, its manual, their vehicle manual, and if possible, the child who uses the seat.
Car seat clinics will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at several locations statewide: Albuquerque (Kohl’s Parking Lot on Holly Avenue NE and Bernalillo County Fire Rescue Station #38), Clovis (The Java Loft), Farmington (JC Penny Parking Lot at Animas Mall), Las Cruces (Elks Lodge #1119), Los Lunas (Youth Development Inc.), Rio Rancho (Target Parking Lot), Santa Fe (Kohl’s Parking Lot on Cerrillos Rd.), and Taos (Taos Middle School).
Funding for fitting stations comes from NMDOT’s Traffic Safety Division. Additional information about event times and locations is available through NMDOT's Public Involvement Calendar at https://www.dot.nm.gov/public-involvement-calendar/. More details about National Child Passenger Safety Week can be found at www.nhtsa.gov or by calling 800-231-6145 or visiting www.safernm.org.
