UAE: Sharjah may obligate use of car seats

The Gulf Today (Sharjah) - A law aimed at reducing the rate of children injuries and fatalities resulting from road accidents, is hoped to be passed before the year-end in Sharjah.

The Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA) revealed that it will hold a meeting with the Minister of Interior (MoI), relating to passing a law that will require the mandatory use of specialised car safety seats and the imposition of strict penalities on violators.

The development on the safety of traveling children, was revealed by Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qassimi, wife of UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, and Executive Director General Noura Al Noman, at a press conference on Wednesday. The conference also announced the launch of the “Child Safety Car Seats Campaign” across Sharjah, from April.

SCFA Secretary General Mariam Ahmed Saeed said that according to 2009 data collected from across the UAE, children who sustained injuries or succumbed to death because of the negligent use of specialised car safety seats, was at 10,194 with 1,314 cases being from Sharjah.

She said precise and accurate data has not been obtained recently since police reports do not carry such specific details.

Sharjah Ladies Club director and campaign head Khawla Al Serkal said the legislation of a law will help instill a new mindset and ingrain among responsible people the habit of buckling up children, including newborns, when traveling.

It is also a must that children, young as they are, are taught about safety precautions, she added.

It was also revealed that the campaign will be carried out through weekly radio programmes as well as seminars and workshops wherein people from all ages will be informed about the relevance of the proper use of specialised car safety seats.

International studies have revealed that the ordinary car seatbelt is not enough to ensure the safety of travelling children.

During the campaign, 1,500 specialised car safety seats manufactured by Maxi-Cosi from Europe will be given away.

Maxi-Cosi Chief Executive Officer Ben Boenk said these seats, which come in three forms for newborns to 12-year-olds, are priced between Dhs600 and Dhs1, 400 and have been approved by Abu Dhabi and Dubai authorities.

He said it is already a law in the capital that newborns cannot be released from the hospitals if they do not have their own specialised car safety seats.