The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and AAA Colorado have launched the Look Before You Lock campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of leaving children, older adults, people with disabilities, or pets in parked vehicles. The campaign was introduced during a demonstration at the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, where an empty car was left in Joy Park with a digital thermometer displaying its interior temperature. Within ten minutes, the inside temperature exceeded 105ºF despite cooler outdoor weather.
“No child or other vulnerable passenger should ever be left alone in a car, no matter the outside temperature,” said CDOT’s Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Vehicular heatstroke can happen in temperatures as low as 57 degrees, so please remember to look before you lock.”
Officials emphasized that even when it is not extremely hot outside, cars can still reach dangerous temperatures quickly. According to safety experts, a child’s body temperature increases three to five times faster than an adult’s, making them especially vulnerable.
Nationally in 2025, there have been 18 reported deaths of children due to being left in hot cars. This follows 39 deaths last year—a 35% increase compared to 2023. While Colorado has not recorded such a death since August 2008—when two siblings died in Douglas County—the risk remains present.
Data show that more than half of these fatalities occur when caretakers forget children inside vehicles; nearly one-quarter happen when children gain access to cars on their own. As part of the event’s educational efforts, museum staff led sessions for kids about sun safety and CDOT and AAA distributed car fresheners reminding families: “Look Before You Lock.”
“AAA is passionate about raising awareness of vehicular heatstroke and continuing our partnership with CDOT. While Colorado has historically seen low fatalities of this kind, it’s always worth a reminder to be thoughtful when it comes to the safety of children and vulnerable passengers,” said Skyler McKinley, Regional Director of Public Affairs for AAA. “Let’s continue to set an example and avoid these preventable tragedies: Always check the back seat of your vehicle before exiting.”
