5 UAE child road safety rules every parent must know, and the fines for breaking them

Dubai: If you are a parent in the UAE, familiarise yourself with the country’s legislations around child safety rules on the road. How old should a child be, before it’s safe for them to sit in the front seat? Can you leave your little one unattended in the car, while you run a quick errand? Does your child really need a car seat? What’s the proper driving etiquette when you’re behind a school bus? Federal Law No. (3) of 2016 or Wadeema’s Law, which is the UAE’s core legal framework dedicated to protecting and ensuring the rights of children, clearly outlines legislation for such scenarios, and upholds strict penalties for offenders. The UAE’s Federal Traffic Law also makes clear distinctions when it comes to road safety rules for children. We break down what’s acceptable and what’s not, according to UAE’s regulations, and share five major road safety rules you should know, when it comes to the country’s youngest passengers. 1. Leaving children unattended in cars Under Wadeema’s Law, leaving a child unattended in a vehicle amounts to child neglect. Imran Khan, legal consultant at I K Lawyers, said: “Never leave a child alone in a parked vehicle, even if the air conditioning is running. In the UAE’s extreme climate, a parked car can become dangerous within minutes if the engine or air conditioning fails, exposing the child to heatstroke, suffocation, or other serious harm. This conduct is treated as child neglect under the UAE’s child protection framework.” Wadeema’s Law defines child neglect “as a failure by parents or custodians to take necessary measures to protect a child’s life, physical and psychological well-being and other rights from danger”. Khan explained: “Articles 1, 33, 34 and 35 address child neglect, abandonment and inadequate supervision. Therefore, leaving a child alone in a vehicle, particularly where it exposes the child to danger, may result in imprisonment, a fine, or both, depending on the circumstances.” Any bystanders who witness a child locked in a vehicle unattended are advised by the Dubai Police to call the emergency hotline 999, in order to summon the authorities and rescue teams before it is too late. Penalty: Offenders can face fines starting from Dh5,000, up to Dh1 million for more serious cases involving endangerment to life, along with imprisonment for up to 10 years, depending on the Court’s assessment. 2. Children in the front seat According to the UAE’s Federal Traffic Law, children are not allowed to sit in the front passenger seat, whether on their own, or on an adult’s lap. The passenger in the front seat has to be at least 10 years old or 145cm in height. Khan added: “Article 58 of Wadeema’s Law places a clear statutory duty on authorities to protect children from traffic related risks by enforcing safety measures. There is a strict prohibition on children under 10 years of age sitting in the front seat of any vehicle, reinforcing wider UAE traffic regulations and child protection principles that classify such conduct as endangerment.” Penalty: Dh400 fine for placing a child under 10 in the front seat. 3. Car seat regulations The UAE has strict rules and penalties in place to ensure passengers are appropriately secured in their vehicle seats. When it comes to children, this equates to using specialised car seats. Infants and children under the age of four must use a child safety seat that is securely placed in the backseat. According to Article 31 of Ministerial Resolution No. 130 of 1997, all car seats must comply with UAE’s safety standards. Learn more about it here . Khan advised: “Parents should make it a habit to check the rear seat before locking the vehicle, especially when transporting infants in rear-facing car seats, as these seats make the child less visible and increase the risk of accidental lock-ins.” Children over the age of four must use booster seats until they reach a height of 145cm, after which they are permitted to use the adult seatbelt. Penalty: Dh400 fine for not providing a child safety seat for a child aged four or below. 4. Driving in school zones or near school buses Always watch out for school buses, and drive carefully near school zones. Under Article 91 of Ministerial Resolution No. 178 of 2017 concerning Rules and Procedures of Traffic Control, motorists travelling in both directions must come to a complete stop when a school bus’s ‘Stop’ sign is activated . This means passengers are embarking or disembarking the bus, and you must wait until the road is clear and the bus’s ‘Stop’ sign has been retracted, before proceeding. Penalty: Dh1,000 fine and 10 black points for motorists who fail to stop when a school bus activates its ‘Stop’ sign. 5. Child pedestrian safety In general, according to Article 5(1) of the UAE’s Federal Traffic Law, motorists in the UAE are required to slow down at pedestrian crossings , and stop until pedestrians have completed crossing the road. Article 7 also states that motorists should ensure the safety of ped