351 Abu Dhabi drivers fined for child in front seat

Abu Dhabi traffic police fined 351 drivers in the first 10 months of this year for allowing their children below 10 years old to sit in the front seat in violation of existing laws.

The number of such penalties was nearly 24 per cent higher than the 281 offences recorded in the first 10 months of 2011, according to Albayan Arabic language newspaper, which cited traffic police statistics.

It quoted traffic police public relations director Lt Colonel Jamal al Amri as saying such offences involve a fine of Dh400 and four black points.

“Such a behavior poses a serious threat to the children in case there was an accident…..we consider it as a serious violation,” he said.