Make safety a priority

Sharjah

A few days ago, I came across a display of callous behaviour in Sharjah, which I would like to raise concern over. I was driving on King Faisal Street in the evening and suddenly noticed a toddler leaning out of the front window of a vehicle in the lane next to mine (as seen in photograph).

It was shocking as this vehicle was driving in the fast lane. Additionally, the baby was sitting on his mother’s lap. This is an issue that needs the attention of the authorities and needs to be addressed.

This incident clearly highlighted the negligence of parents in today’s world. So many innocent children are being allowed to put their lives in danger in this manner on the roads in the UAE and in general, too. We see reports in the media of children falling from buildings or being left locked in a parked vehicle.

Authorities have on several instances alerted parents about the safety of their children. Parents need to be role models for their children, especially when it is concerning topics of safety.

Parents need to be made responsible for this type of negligence and authorities should facilitate more monitoring systems to curb such violations on the roads and in residential buildings.

Baby seats must be made mandatory for families with young children, if this isn’t already the case. Authorities could start circulating leaflets or sending text messages to the public as part of safety awareness programs. Advertisements or videos on child safety in movie theatres are also a good option.

I have seen so many incidents similar to this on the roads, in parks, in shopping malls and buildings where the parents don’t give attention to their children. The next generation should be well aware about the safety issues that they are going to face and only the parents can help them out. Authorities have limitations.

I strongly believe in safety first in both my professional and personal life. I have been driving on the roads in the UAE for the past 14 years. I have never allowed my children to sit in the front seat. My younger son uses a baby seat while the older one sits in the rear seat with a seat belt. In this manner, both my sons are now aware of the safety on roads. Children are known to copy whatever they see around them. Safety is among these actions. If people are not concerned about their own safety, or that of their family, they will not be bothered about other people. Thus, I wish all parents would teach their children about safety and set a good example and leave the right message for the next generation.

— The reader is based in Sharjah.

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