UAE | Traffic and Transport

Car seats mandatory for children below six years

Onus is on driver to ensure that young passengers are buckled up

By Dina Aboul Hosn, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 June 29, 2011

Image Credit: Oliver Clarke/Gulf News archive
According to a police official, a child’s size and weight, rather than the age, determine whether or not he or she needs a child seat and what type of seat should be used.

Image 1 of 2: 1 2

Dubai: Drivers who fail to ensure that any child in their car is buckled up in an appropriate child seat will be facing the charge of endangering a person's life, Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Head of Dubai Police's Traffic Department, said Tuesday.

The Traffic Police Chief's statement puts an end to speculations on whether the instructions issued by the Ministry of Interior earlier this week meant that child seats for children below six years old are obligatory by the law.

The ministry had issued instructions regarding the use of child seats in the cars early this week. He said that using child seat in the cars is obligatory by law now, however, he did not elaborate how much fine will be imposed.

"We will advise people when they need advice and issue violations for those who endanger a child's life," Maj Gen Al Zafein told Gulf News.

He said the child's size and weight, rather than their age, determines whether or not they need a child seat and what type of seat should be used.

"Some children are small in size and the regular seatbelt will not offer much protection when it is too loose or falls in the wrong place on the child's chest, as it should secure the passenger's chest right under the neck," Maj Gen Al Zafein said.

Comments (54)

Added 18:35 June 29, 2011

good if u have 2 kids - i have six 2 should sit in the car seat and what about the 4? we have a small four-wheel drive?

Anonymous, ajman, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:29 June 29, 2011

"what kind of child seat will hold a 6 years old i understand that we must use it , but why 6 ? Anonymous, dubai, United Arab Emirates" Booster seats are suitable for this age. This makes the child tall enough for the car's seat belt to be used safely. Otherwise, the seat belt crosses the child's body in the wrong place. Some countries require them for children who are between 18 and 36 kg.

MominSharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Added 18:11 June 29, 2011

thing is that most of the childrens would not like to sit in seat and would continiuosly cry while driving, it may disturb us to concentrate on driving especialy when you are going for long drive.

Parag, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:39 June 29, 2011

I'm shocked at the comments from people saying they won't use car seats because their child won't be comfy or cry - what would you prefer? You little angel flying through the windscreen? Being used as a human airbag? Or even crushed by an airbag! My 3 year old niece refuses to let her parents car go anywhere until she is strapped in! If a 3 year old knows the importance of being strapped in, then there's really no excuse for the rest of you.

Jules, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:11 June 29, 2011

What about school buses? Will schools be asked to carry baby seats for school going children?

AV, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:06 June 29, 2011

Amazed that some people think their children should be held by an adult in the car - for "safety and comfort" - this is NOT SAFE AT ALL and I really would question any thinking that a child's car seat is uncomfortable. As for the children "not wanting" to sit in a car seat - ummm they are children - you are the adult - you are the responsible one with the knowledge of the consequences (death!) if you do not buckle them up so take your role seriously and LOOK AFTER YOUR PRECIOUS KIDS!!!!!!!!! If you can't afford car seats look online - for less than the price of a full tank of petrol you could save your child's life.

MrsH, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 17:02 June 29, 2011

This comment all of you who are worried that their kids might not be comfortable on a child seat. I had my kid seated in my wife's lap on the back seat till she was about four months old. I too was a bit cost conscious then. All it took was a near miss. This changed my mind and I bought her a car seat. Trust me she got used to it from the minute we put her in. Yes she would get a bit restless at first but after a couple of trips she has been fine. She is 4 yrs old now she refuses to sit in the car without a car seat. Somehow she takes pride in using her car seat since she is seated a height rather than when she is seated on the seat. And she also enjoys the view. All it would take from parents is a bit of effort in explaining to the kid that if he/she sits in the car seat they would be able to look out of the window just they way you do and that will get them going and if you could also manage to explain to them that they would not get hurt, thats all the more effective. Yes for the infants, there would be a bit of a challenge for the parents to get the child used to the seat. But regardless, they get used to it after a couple of trips. All-in-all, it is up to you to opt for the deciding factor - Safety vs. Convenience. Guess you guys dont have much of a choice since the rule has come into effect. Hope this helps guys. Take care. Drive Safe

Melwyn, Doha, Qatar

Added 16:58 June 29, 2011

@anonymous who complained about spending AED 400 on a car seat. If you can afford to buy a car, then you can afford to buy a car seat. What's more important to you: your child's life or AED400?

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:40 June 29, 2011

Its a real shame that people seem to think such a little amount about their children and put such a small amount of money on their lives. What's 1M Dhs when its your son or daughter who is dead, crushed by their mother or father during an accident? How would you feel if that happened to you? Wouldn't you give all the money you had to have them back? As for them disliking their seats - its not true - my niece would not fall asleep unless she was in her car seat - for about 3 months of her life, if her mother wanted to get her to sleep - she put her in the car seat (after removing it and putting it in the house). And as for taxis - here's a tip - car seats can be removed from a car - so take it out and put it in the taxi when you get in it. If you choose not too - and your child is badly hurt or dies due to your selfishness - then I'm sorry, but you deserve it, plain and simple

Shaun, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 16:20 June 29, 2011

This is a good initiative by the traffic department. Life safety measures are very important and everyone should do it to protect their own life. But there will be some problem to the residents/car owners to follow the new rule of car seats, because child’s size and weight, rather than the age will determine whether or not he or she needs a child seat and what type of seat should be used? First thing, many families got 3 - 4 children with a gap of 1 or 1 1/2 years so they need to purchase car seats for every one how they will fix all car seats in the car? Where will sit other family members like mother and any other adult sibling? Second thing that many families traveling by public transport especially with kids they prefer to take taxi, so who and how will arrange car seats? What about if it will make “Seat Belt Mandatory” for everyone sitting in the car, it can be simple and easy for everyone to put seat belt let say from age two+ must use the seat belts, and the child under age of two must be in mother lap in rear seat while mother is fasten seat belt and children age up to 10 years must be seated in rear seat.

Ali, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates