Kids & Seatbelts. Q&A

SURVEY SHOWS HALF OF UAE PARENTS DON’T KNOW THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILD SEAT BELT USE

More than half (55%) of parents don’t know the legal requirements for child seat belt use in the UAE, according to new survey.

Whilst 91% of parents said they require children to wear a seatbelt in the car, the research, conducted by INFINITI Middle East, showed conflicting opinions on the age when the safety practice should be introduced.

One quarter (26%) of those surveyed said that seatbelts should be worn from the age of three, whilst one fifth (20%) said the age for strapping in was six and above.

According to UAE law, vehicle driver and all passengers have to wear a seat belt at all times regardless of age, and children up to four years must be provided with a child safety seat.

The survey is part of a major new road safety awareness campaign by INFINITI Middle East, promoting the safety of children in vehicles Called ‘Eyes on You’, the campaign sheds light on parent’s on-road behaviours and the impact these have on children.

“Correct seatbelt use is an ongoing topic of conversation in the UAE, and this new survey shows that there is still a lot of confusion amongst parents, when it comes to safety rules,” said Markus Leithe, Managing Director, Middle East, INFINITI. “This new survey, and the ‘Eyes on You’ campaign, aims to draw attention to these crucial safety considerations, reminding parents of their responsibility and how on-road behaviour affects – and is eventually mimicked by - children.”

The ‘Eyes on You’ campaign is closely aligned with the Dubai traffic safety strategy to reduce road fatalities by 1.5 for 100,000 population by 2021. A comprehensive seat belt law came into place in the UAE in 2017, making seat belts for rear seat passengers and child safety seats mandatory.

“Correct use of seatbelts remains a key priority for RTA, as we work to improve the safety of parents and children on the UAE’s roads,” said Deema Hussein, Traffic Awareness Senior Manager, Traffic Department of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). We are therefore very happy to support the ‘Eyes on You’ campaign which engages one of the most important groups on the road – the parents.”

Haad.ae states that more than 260,000 children die in road traffic crashes each year and up to 10 million more are injured.

Globally, the majority of the fatal injuries to children under the age of 18 years are the result of road traffic crashes.

In the UAE, injuries are one of the leading causes of death for children. 2 out of every 3 fatally injured children die due to road traffic crashes. This is around 3 times the global average.

Keep safe and buckle up.