Some UAE parents just won't buckle up infants

Having your child buckled up in a child seat when traveling by car is likely to become mandatory soon, as a new Traffic Law is in the making.

As part of the GCC Traffic Week, the Road and Transport Authority held a workshop on Sunday in Al Barsha Health Center, targeting mothers and lecturing them about child safety, car seat installation  and distribution of bilingual’ "Baby on Board" sticker in vehicle and its importance.

According to studies revealed earlier, accidents in Dubai account for 63 per cent of all child deaths, and several campaigns have highlighted the importance of installing child seats in order to reduce the risks of fatal injury.

Emirates 24|7 stopped mall-goers with children in the Mall of the Emirates to question them about the subject.

In general, the law-in-making seemed to be welcomed by parents from different backgrounds.

"I think this is a very good initiative. Child safety is very important and should be safeguarded," said Ray Muhammad (35), the Pakistani father of a 3,5-months-old baby. Proudly he demonstrates the combo stroller from where the newborn stares at his parents.

"This stroller is a child seat too. You can detach it and install it in the car, without taking the baby out. We bought it even before the baby was born, I would never step inside my car without having a child seat for my child."

Cloe Mormin (30) from France agrees. "Having a child seat installed in the car is mandatory in my country, and I think it is in many countries. It is very normal for us, I cannot imagine traveling without," she said.

However, studies suggest that a large number of people are still seen traveling with a child on the lap, in the back of the car or in front or sitting on the regular passengers' seat, not buckled up.

"I do not have a car seat," admitted Hala (31), a Jordanian mother of two children, aged six and one. "I know it is not safe, but I am an easy-going person I think. But a law that makes it mandatory would be an idea I support. It is a good step."

Likewise, Juliya Serhiyevich (28) from Belarus does not keep a child seat in the car. "I do not know why, I have never thought about it," the mother of a 4-year-old said. My husband drives, and our child sits in the back."

The Ugandan Gloria Bamutura, mother of a 5-months-old toddler said to have a child seat in the car, but sympathises with those parents who do not. "I think it is important for the child's safety. But if the law makes it mandatory, this might become difficult for some parents. What if they cannot immediately afford a child seat? Will they be fined?"

The new law will most likely make child seats mandatory for children up to the age of four, and violations will be met with fines as well as black points. 

Image via Shutterstock

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