Passenger safety is one of the foremost priority when it comes to car travel. As a result, there are motorists’ rules and regulation appropriated in the UAE. Child safety regulations are scrutinized the most and these regulations are mostly focused on their special in-vehicle seating requirement. Installing proper child seats in a vehicle can potentially save children minor to potentially fatal injuries in event of an incident.
Despite its significance and priority, motorists do not follow the child safety rules religiously. This is majorly contributed due to lack of awareness and negligence. According to the latest surveys by “”RoadSafetyUAE” and “QIC Insured”, one third of the residents in the UAE don’t really give importance to child safety seats. This is a cause for concern to the UAE authorities as many recent incidents have emerged of fatal road accidents.
New Findings on the usage of Child Safety in Vehicles
A latest survey has been conducted by RoadSafetyUAE and QIC Insured regarding the awareness of safety rules while driving. Some important facts were highlighted as to how motorists perceive child safety while travelling in the UAE. It was revealed that there is a high level of lack of awareness and understanding about how to keep their child safe while traveling in a vehicle as well as the equipment used to ensure their safety.
The findings of the survey reported that 34% of the motorists in the UAE don’t consider putting importance on how the child is seated in a moving vehicle and how proper seating may be essential for their safety. This survey was conducted in two parts by “RoadSafetyUAE” and “QIC Insured” by including 1,000 respondents in the first part.
Some of the major findings of the survey include the following:
- There are 66% motorist who had proper child safety seats installed in their cars. Of these, 30% don’t ask their children to buckle up.
- As mentioned earlier, 34% of the motorists’ population don’t have child safety seats in their cars.
- In terms of racial demographics, 47% of Emiratis do not have child safety seats in their car, thus topping the list of motorists.
- Motorists between the age of 18 and 29, amounting to 42%, don’t have child safety seats installed in their cars.
- 44% of the motorists don’t ask their passengers to buckle up before a ride.
- 11 % of adult motorists only buckle up while sitting in the rear seats.
- Those who do buckle up in the back seat, 55% of them feel safe doing so.
These are some of the major findings of the survey targeted only in the UAE, regardless of income background and the vehicle types etc. One of the main theme that can be extracted from these findings is that it is important to understand the reasons given by motorists for not installing child seats in their cars. Figures can only pose a superficial side of the story. In order to truly address this concern, the authorities need to understand the reason behind such a stance by motorists and find ways to address these reasons in the most conducive manner.
Also read: Car Safety Tips for Protection against Fire Hazards
Reasons for not Using Child Safety Seats by Motorists
Other than pointing out the percentage of motorists who don’t use car safety features for children and related figures, this survey also explored the possible reasons behind these findings.
Following are some of the reasons in details given by motorists of the UAE as to why they don’t prefer installing child safety seats in their cars:
- 29% of the motorists think that it’s a waste of money to invest in a child safety seat and install in the car.
- About 15% of the motorists would rather have a passenger hold the child in the vehicle instead of installing a child safety seat.
- 28% are concerned about their child being uncomfortable strapped in a seat.
- 7% of the motorists were of the view that it’s religiously unwise to use seat belts.
- 15% trust their driving skills too much to actually care for using child safety seats.
- 11% of the motorists do not trust these child safety seats enough to keep their children safe during the ride.
- 37% of the motorists are of the view that child safety seats are not needed is the trip is short.
- 5% of the motorists think it was against their culture to use child safety seats.
The analysis part of the survey holds great significance as it highlights the reasons behind the lack of observance of child car safety rules in the UAE. It is through the understanding of these reasons that the authorities can take appropriate steps to address these concerns.
New Traffic Rule in Dubai addressing importance of Child Safety Seats
In light of the increasing negligence regarding the use of child safety seats in vehicles, Dubai authorities have made amends to a new traffic rule that will ensure stricter implementation of this rule. This new rule is reported to be implemented from July 1, 2017 and motorists who do not comply will be strictly penalized.
Below is the list of the new amendments in the child car safety rules that the motorists are hereby ordered to observe:
- Motorists must have child safety seats in their car for children under 4 years of age
- It is mandatory for all motorists and passengers to buckle up, in front and back seats.
- Any passenger with a height below 145 cm will not be allowed to sit in the front seat.
- Passengers sitting in the front seats should not be below 10 years old.
The stricter implementation of these rules is adamant as it is essential to ensure the safety of children in moving vehicles and avoid negligence. According to the new rules, a fine of AED 400 per passenger could be faced by motorists for not using seatbelts while driving. This can prove to be a deterrence in terms of avoiding the new amended rules when it comes to observance of child car safety features.
Also read: Guide – Car Safety & the Law
Child Safety Seats and their Importance
According to a recent news in Sharjah, an Emirati driver was saved from an impending accident after his cruise control system in his vehicle failed. The driver was traveling at the speed of 120km/h on Maliha Road.
Despite the fact that traffic police was informed about this failure at the right time and no casualties happened, it is something to be concerned about. No matter how many in-built safety features are installed in your vehicle, when it comes to the safety of children, extra precautions need to be made in order to avoid such an incident.
There is a reason why there are special child car safety equipment and rules set in the UAE. At the event of an accident, children are the ones most vulnerable especially if there is absence of proper safety gear for them. Therefore, it is essential for motorists to realize the importance of having an effective child safety seat installed in the vehicle and the proper use of it in order to provide maximum safety to them.
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