Occupant Protection
The primary goal of New Mexico’s Occupant Protection (OP) Program is to reduce the number of occupant protection-related traffic crashes, fatalities and injuries.
To achieve this goal, the NMDOT Traffic Safety Division (TSD) has developed this Occupant Protection Plan focused on increasing seatbelt use and use of child safety seats among the driving public.
Pierrot Bendegue, Program Coordinator
505-629-3762
pierrot.bendegue@dot.nm.gov
Program Managers
| District 1 Sonya Dalton 505-531-7672 sonya.dalton@dot.nm.gov |
District 2 Karyssa Garcia 505-660-8103 Karyssa.Garcia@dot.nm.gov |
| District 3 Marcus Sandoval 505-394-1840 marcus.sandoval@dot.nm.gov |
District 4 & 6 Steve Lujan 505-709-7861 steve.lujan@dot.nm.gov |
| District 5 John Vargas 505-231-6784 john.vargas2@dot.nm.gov |
Safer New Mexico Now Eileen Rios 505-471-2239 eileenrios@safernm.org |
Occupant Protection: Seatbelt and Child Passenger Safety
News and Events
Santa Fe, NM. Car Seat Event, April 8, 2026
Santa Fe, NM. Car Seat Event, April 8, 2026
Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host a free Car Seat Inspection Clinic from NOON to 2:00PM,
Espanola, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 15, 2026
Espanola, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 15, 2026
Espanola, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host a free Car Seat Inspection Clinic from 1:00 PM to 3:00
Carlsbad, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 16, 2026
Carlsbad, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 16, 2026
Carlsbad, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host a free Car Seat Inspection Clinic from 11:00 AM to 1:00
Raton, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 23, 2026
Raton, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 23, 2026
Raton, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host a free Car Seat Inspection Clinic from 11:00 AM to 1:00
Farmington, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 25, 2026
Farmington, NM. Car Seat Event, Apr. 25, 2026
Farmington, NM – The New Mexico Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division (NMDOT TSD) and Safer New Mexico Now (Safer) will host a free Car Seat Inspection Clinic from 09:00 AM to 11:00
Contact us
NMDOT Child Passenger Safety Technicians
Pierrot Bendegue
505-629-3762
pierrot.bendegue@dot.nm.gov
Jonathan Fernandez
505-469-2736
jonathanm.fernandez@dot.nm.gov
Ami Evans
(575) 640-5981
ami.evans@dot.nm.gov
