Dubai Police issues urgent reminder to parents neglecting child safety in vehicles

Dubai Police issues an urgent reminder to parents neglecting child safety in vehicles, emphasizing the importance of proper car seats. This follows a survey revealing that one in three parents in the UAE lacks appropriate car seats for their children.

Authorities stress the need for prioritizing road safety, particularly for toddlers and young children, urging parents to secure them in car seats while traveling. A tweet from Dubai Police reinforces this message, underlining that safety is a shared priority.

The survey, conducted last year, exposed alarming statistics, with 33% of parents in the UAE not owning proper car seats. Thomas Edelmann, founder of RoadSafetyUAE, emphasizes the responsibility of parents in establishing safety habits from birth, including using appropriate child seats.

The survey also identified reasons for not owning a child car seat, such as a lack of knowledge, children disliking being strapped in, and the perceived high cost. Even among parents who own proper child car seats, about 30% admitted to not always ensuring their children buckle up.

In the UAE, mandatory seat belt regulations apply to all passengers in a car, with violations incurring fines and penalty points. Children up to four years old must use a child safety seat, and the front seat passenger should be at least 145 cm tall and not younger than 10 years old.

Edelmann emphasizes the need for further parent education, strengthening enforcement around schools, and implementing mandatory newborn hospital discharge policies. Infant car seats are designed to protect babies in the event of a crash, forming a protective cocoon and ensuring proper restraint during travel.