Most countries have enacted legislation regarding the safe transportation of children in motor vehicles. While some laws do exist in Mexico, they have been loosely enforced in most states.
That is about to change, according to the Jalisco state government, following changes to the Mobility, Road Safety and Transportation Law approved last year.
Starting August 5, sanctions will be applied to drivers who fail to transport their small children in infant or toddler seats, or, in the case of older children, use the correct restraints as required in the regulations (booster seats or seat belts).
Over the next six months, the state government will take a campaign to different parts of the state to promote the use of child restraint systems (CRS).
At the launch of the program last week, a consignment of 60 infant seats obtained by the NGO Reacciona por la Vida was delivered to parents, following a training session held in conjunction with local children’s homes.
The state government says in the event of a road accident, the proper use of CRS reduces the likelihood of infant deaths by up to 60 percent.
According to data from the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), in 2021 road accidents were the third highest cause of death for children aged from one to four, and second highest for those between four and 14.
When the new rules take effect in Jalisco, fines for transporting children in the back of cars without restraints will be up to 2,500 pesos.