Seat belts have saved countless lives since federal law began requiring all vehicle manufacturers to install them in new cars in 1968. By 1995, nearly all U.S. states, including Colorado, had mandatory seatbelt laws. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), seat belts reduce the risk of front-seat passenger fatalities by 45% and reduce moderate to severe injuries by 50%.
Still, 223 unbuckled Colorado motorists died in car accidents in a single recent year. Many of those traffic fatalities were preventable had the motorist followed Colorado’s seat belt laws. Contact our auto accident attorneys in Westminster today to discuss your accident case with a legal professional.
Seat Belt Laws In Colorado
It is strongly recommended that all motorists wear seat belts at all times in a moving vehicle. The following seat belt laws are in place in Colorado:
- Both the driver and front seat passenger must wear a seat belt with both lap and shoulder belts
- Back seat passengers under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt or be properly restrained in a car seat designed for their age or weight (before 2025, those over age 16 could choose not to wear a seatbelt in the back seat)
- Back seat passengers over the age of 18 are not legally required to wear seat belts, but it is highly recommended that they do so
Seat belts with both lap and shoulder belts are more effective in accidents than lap belts alone.
2025 Changes In Colorado’s Child Restraint Laws
A Colorado law passed in 2024 took effect on January 1, 2025, with updated requirements for minors, changing the previous backseat seat belt requirement from children up to age 16 to minors up to age 18. The changes also impact child restraint systems (car seats), including for older children, extending the booster seat requirement for children up to age nine. Previously, booster seats were required only up to age eight.
Below are Colorado’s child seat belt restraint laws:
- Children younger than age two and under 40 pounds must ride in rear-facing car seats
- Children over age two or weighing over 40 pounds must be restrained in a car seat, but may use a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat
- Children under the age of nine must use a booster seat
- Children in car seats must ride in the rear seat if a rear seat is available in the vehicle
Child car seats and booster seats should be properly installed and appropriate for each child’s age and weight. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), weight is a better choice if a parent is uncertain whether to base a car seat choice on a child’s age or weight. Car seat designs are based on child weight and developmental stage, more than age.
Colorado parents may use one of the state’s car seat safety checkpoints to ensure their child’s car seat is correctly installed.
Failing to Wear a Seat Belt Is a Primary Offense In Colorado
In many states, neglecting to use a seat belt is a secondary offense, or one for which a law enforcement officer may only issue a citation as a secondary violation when issuing a traffic ticket for another infraction, such as speeding.
However, in Westminster, Colorado, failing to wear a seat belt is a primary offense for those under the age of 18. A law enforcement officer may pull over a young driver if they or a passenger in their vehicle is not wearing a seat belt. Adult drivers may be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt in addition to another traffic citation. Call our injury lawyers in Westminster for a free consultation.