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29 March 2024

Dh400 back seat-belt fine? UAE says no law... yet

Wearing a properly adjusted lap and shoulder seat belt reduces the risk of serious or fatal injury by 50% in a frontal crash (SUPPLIED)

Published
By Bindu Rai

The UAE’s Federal Traffic Council chief has denied that rear-seats' seat-belt law has been implemented in the country despite reports suggesting otherwise.

A poster circulating on social media states offenders will be fined Dh400 if not buckled up in the back seat.

Council head, Major-General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, however, told Emirates 24|7 the back-seat seatbelt rule will be implemented “very soon”, without confirming a date.

Al Zafeen said: “I am not sure who has circulated a poster citing the Council, but I am confirming no rear seatbelt law has been implemented across the UAE as yet. Neither is a Dh400 fine currently being levied for the same.

“We have been tirelessly working towards the cause, but these things take time. However, we are confident the law will be put in place very soon.”

When quizzed whether the law would be applicable only for children or adults too, Al Zafeen further explained: “The idea is to have the law implemented across the board for adults and children alike.

“Currently, there is yet no law for buckling up children in the backseat either, but we do urge parents to ensure their kids are strapped in for their own safety.”

Al Zafeen stated the matter will be up for discussion at the next committee meeting.

The Council is the authoritative body set up to bring reforms under the directive of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of UAE.

Several UAE-based parents who have been championing the cause over the past few years suffered a setback earlier this week when the community-based ‘Buckle Up In The Back’ initiative spearhead decided to shut down her social campaign to work towards a federal law in the UAE for the same.

In a Facebook post, founder Lesley Cully said: “I founded Buckle Up way back in 2010 and have been working hard since then to educate on the use of seat belts and age appropriate car seats. It is now time to renew the business licence and after a very long and thoughtful discussion with my husband, have decided not to renew this year and am now in the formal process of closing the campaign.

“The campaign is mentally, financially and often physically exhausting and so the time has come to stop.”

She further added: “I am devastated that I am not able to celebrate the existence yet of a rear seat belt law.”

For people such as mother-of-two, Liza Ellis, the setback is a wake-up call for parents to take responsibility of their own children’s safety.

“As a parent, it is my job first to ensure my children are safe, at home, at school and in the car when they travel,” she said.

“Even if there isn’t a law in place as yet, it is still my responsibility to make sure my children are buckled in for their own security. It is the smart thing to do. There is no two ways about it.”