More than half of children travelling in cars in Dubai are not secured safely, a study shows. The research, in which 2,000 vehicles in the emirate were monitored, found nearly one in 10 children were placed, unrestrained, on an adult’s lap. The survey, conducted by Monash University in Australia with the support of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, discovered 51.7 per cent of children in cars were unrestrained, while 8.3 per cent were held unrestrained on an adult’s lap.
A large number of drivers and front-seat passengers also failed to wear seat belts, research showed. Surveys carried out by Road Safety UAE and YouGov found about one third of parents in the UAE do not own the required car seats, Mr Edelmann said.
Among the main reasons parents give for not putting their child in an appropriate seat are that they are unsure which type to buy, the child does not like to be strapped in or because the seats are too expensive and also considering themselves as safe drivers.
Thomas Edelmann, managing director of Road Safety UAE, said the responsibility for child safety lay with parents and it was “of utmost importance to perform the role of responsible parent”. “This means, from the hospital – when the newborn is discharged – parents must bring their newborn home in a proper child seat as mandated by Seat Belt Law that was put in place since 2017, mandating the use of child seats for children aged 0-4 years.”
Road Safety UAE’s research also indicated that the 2017 legislation had “a short-lived impact” on the use of suitable child restraints, with research in 2021 suggesting the situation was worse, he said. Road Safety UAE’s research also indicated that the 2017 legislation had “a short-lived impact” on the use of suitable child restraints, with research in 2021 suggesting the situation was worse, he said.
Authorities have reminded motorists to start the New Year by prioritising road safety, particularly for toddlers and young ones who must be secured in their car seats when travelling.
The message was particularly directed towards parents. “Safety is our priority, and it’s also yours. Safeguarding the well-being of our little ones begins with ensuring they are securely seated in their car seats,” Dubai Police underscored in their tweet.
“What is more disturbing is that of about two-thirds of parents who own proper child car seats, about 30 per cent do not always ask their children to buckle up,” Edelmann underscored.
In the UAE, all passengers in a car are required to wear seat belts, including those sitting in the rear seat, failing which the driver of the vehicle will be fined Dh400 and slapped with four black points. Children up to four years of age must be provided with a child safety seat. Violators will be fined Dh400 and slapped with four black points. The front seat passenger should also be at least 145 cm tall and not younger than 10 years old.
