On the day you bring your baby home from the hospital after they’ve been born, car safety becomes a major concern for parents, and understanding the laws regarding when children can ride in the front seat is essential.
Each state has its regulations to protect child passengers in case of a car accident, and New Mexico is no exception. Knowing the legal requirements and the best safety practices can help parents and caregivers ensure their children are as safe as possible while traveling in a vehicle.
New Mexico’s Child Passenger Safety Laws
New Mexico law requires children under a certain age and weight to be properly restrained in a child safety seat. The state follows guidelines that align with recommendations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
According to New Mexico law, children under one year old and weighing less than 20 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Children between the ages of one and four, or those weighing 20 to 40 pounds, must be seated in a forward-facing car seat and secured with a harness.
Once a child outgrows a forward-facing seat, typically around the age of four, they should transition to a booster seat until they are big enough for the seat belt to fit properly.
Children must use a booster seat until they are at least seven years old and weigh 60 pounds.
However, experts recommend that children continue using a booster seat until they are tall enough for a seat belt to fit correctly, which usually happens around age 10 to 12.
When Can a Child Sit in the Front Seat?
While New Mexico law does not specify an exact age when a child can legally ride in the front seat, safety organizations, including the AAP and NHTSA, strongly advise that children remain in the back seat until at least age 13.
The back seat is significantly safer for younger passengers because it offers greater protection in the event of a crash.
Airbags can be particularly risky for younger children. Because they’re designed to protect full-size adults in high-impact collisions, airbags deploy with significant force that can pose a danger to children who aren’t tall or heavy enough to withstand the impact. This can be especially true when children are in forward-facing car seats, as the force of airbag deployment could cause serious or fatal injuries.
Exceptions and Considerations
In some situations, a child may need to ride in the front seat. If your vehicle doesn’t have a back seat (like a pickup truck or a two-seater car), you may have no choice but to seat the child in the front.
In this situation, you must deactivate the passenger-side airbag (if possible) and make sure that the child is correctly secured in an appropriately designed car seat or booster seat.
Another consideration is the number of passengers. If a vehicle carries more children than can fit safely in the back seat, the oldest and largest child should be seated in the front. Even then, the seat should be adjusted as far back as possible to maximize distance from the airbag.
The Safest Seating for Children
Even though state law may not prohibit children from riding in the front seat at a certain age, the safest place for them remains in the back seat. Numerous studies have found that children who are seated in the rear seats have a significantly lower risk of suffering serious injuries or death in a crash as compared to those in the front seat.
To ensure proper protection, parents should:
- Keep children in rear-facing car seats as long as possible, following the height and weight limits set by the car seat manufacturer.
- Switch to a forward-facing car seat with a harness once the child outgrows the rear-facing seat.
- Use a booster seat when the seat belt fits properly across the child’s lap and shoulder without additional support.
- Ensure that older children who use seat belts sit upright and wear the belt correctly, with the lap belt lying flat across their upper thighs and a shoulder belt that fits snugly across their chest.
Penalties for Violating Child Passenger Safety Laws
New Mexico takes child passenger safety seriously. Drivers who fail to comply with car seat and seat belt laws may face fines and potential points on their driving records. The police can issue citations for violations, and repeat offenses may result in higher penalties.
In addition to legal consequences, failing to properly secure a child in a vehicle can lead to serious injuries and even fatalities if you’re in an accident.
Also, remember that ensuring you comply with these safety regulations isn’t just about avoiding costly fines—it is about protecting the lives and well-being of young passengers.
Additional Safety Tips for Parents and Caregivers
While following legal requirements is important, taking extra precautions can further enhance a child’s safety. You should regularly check your car and booster seats to make sure that they’re properly installed and secured.
Many local fire departments, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies offer car seat inspection services to help parents verify that their child’s seat is positioned correctly.
Parents should also set a good example by always wearing seat belts and enforcing seat belt use for all passengers, regardless of age. Teaching children the importance of proper seat belt use from an early age instills good habits that can last a lifetime.
Staying Informed and Adapting to Changes
Seating laws and safety recommendations, both state and federal, change over time as new research emerges that improves safety. Stay informed by checking your state regulations and guidelines from groups like the NHTSA and AAP.
Vehicle manufacturers also provide specific safety information in their owner’s manuals, including recommendations for child seat placement and airbag deactivation features.
At Barrera Law Group LLC, we believe the safest approach is following expert guidelines, ensuring proper car seat usage, and prioritizing rear-seat placement whenever possible.
By taking these precautions, you can help keep your children safer on the road and reduce the risk of serious injuries should you experience a crash (and we sincerely hope you don’t!)