Children are precious and they are our future. Innocent children are always the victim of the choices that adults make.
Several awareness campaigns have been held around the UAE to highlight the dangers of driving with children seated in the front seat. Children should be buckled up in a car seat, which is placed on the backseat of the vehicle.
But, what happens when the parent ignores and discards all the rules and decides to place the child on his or her lap while driving a vehicle?
I happened to witness a similar situation a few days ago. We were on our way, near the Kuwait Roundabout in Sharjah, when my sister and I saw the car adjacent to ours in which an adorable child was being driven around, while she sat on the drivers seat on her dad’s lap. The steering was so close to her head, as she held on to it (as seen in photograph).
I am also a mother of two children and have nieces and nephews. They are all so precious to us and we wouldn’t want them to get hurt. When I see such irresponsible acts, I begin to wonder how parents can be this way.
We can never anticipate what happens on the roads. In the event of an accident, the child is going to be hurt very badly. Sometimes parents become overconfident, but I feel it’s better to be careful than sorry. I kindly urge all parents to please take care of their children. Drive carefully and seat your children safely and properly. It’s not the duty of the authorities; it’s our responsibility!
The reader is a special educator based in Sharjah.
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