More than 4,700 motorists were fined during the last two years for allowing children below the age of 10 years to sit in the front seat of vehicles.
According to figures from traffic departments across the country, the number of violations reduced in 2019 to 1978 from 2,801 in 2018. Across the UAE, 203 motorists were fined in 2019 for not using child car seats for children aged below four years.
The Ministry of Interior has warned families against letting kids sit in front seats of cars. “It is very risky and poses danger to the children’s safety,” said traffic authorities at the ministry.
“Children below the age of 10 must sit in the back seats of vehicles and should wear seatbelts. Kids under the age of four should be seated in appropriate child seats. Drivers who allow children under the age of 10 to sit in the front seat face a fine of Dh400.”
According to the UAE traffic law, children under 10 years of age or less than 145cm in height are not allowed to sit in the front seat of vehicles.
Traffic authorities said small kids should be put in a child seat and restrained by the seatbelt when being seated in the rear of the vehicle.
Studies have shown that the impact a child could experience in unrestrained seat during an accident is equivalent to that of a fall from 10-metre height. A child car seat would ensure their safety in the event of such cases, according to road safety experts.
Don’t leave kids alone in cars when going for shopping
Traffic officials said leaving a car engine running when children are inside alone puts the life of kids at risk.
“It is a very dangerous habit for parents to leave their children in vehicles without adult supervision,” said officials.
“Leaving children alone inside parked cars at homes or in other places is an act of negligence which leads to serious consequences including death.”
Traffic authorities said there have been continuous warnings and intensive awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of leaving kids in cars. “Parents should pay more attention to children and should monitor them at all time,” said the police.
Police across the UAE have in the past reported many incidents of parents leaving children alone in parked cars when the engine is running or forgetting a sleeping child in the back seat after returning home from an outing. Such incidents have on many occasions led to death of children.
