The Dubai Police has launched the “Child Seat… Safety and Serenity” campaign aimed at protecting children on the roads by raising awareness among parents about the importance of using child seats in vehicles to reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
The Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazroui emphasised that the safety of children from all dangers is a top priority. He called on parents to ensure the provision of child seats in the backseats to ensure the safety of children on the move. He pointed out that leaving or holding a child in the front seat while driving is a hazardous and illegal practice that endangers the child’s life and safety.
Al Mazroui noted that allowing a child under the age of ten or shorter than 145 cm to sit in the front seat is against traffic laws and punishable by a fine of 400 dirhams due to the risk it poses to the child in case of a sudden stop or traffic accident, which could result in the child being thrown forward and colliding with the interior parts of the vehicle or being ejected in case of a severe impact or vehicle rollover.
He also highlighted that the General Department of Traffic recorded 47 accidents in the past ten months, resulting in the death of two children and injuries of varying severity to 45 others including one serious case, 19 of medium severity, and 25 minor injuries.
Al Mazroui clarified that Dubai Police would raise the awareness of the community about the proper use of seats to ensure everyone’s safety in the vehicle, choosing the right type of seat for the child’s age, and the correct way to install the seat. He added that the General Department of Traffic will also distribute free child seats to parents in various regions of the emirate during the campaign.
Al Mazroui praised the significant cooperation shown by the campaign partners, represented by Audi and Noon, in supporting the campaign by providing child seats and offering gifts and incentives.
