Saudi Arabia: Motorists face hefty fines for leaving children alone inside vehicles

Cairo: Saudi traffic authorities have warned motorists against leaving children unattended inside vehicles and have vowed to levy fines on offenders.

The Saudi General Directorate of Traffic said that leaving children under the age of 10 without an adult escort in a car is a traffic violation that carries fines of SR300 to 500, Saudi online newspaper Ajel reported.

The warning was made in a circular issued by the directorate reminding parents that “Your Children are your responsibility. Don’t leave them without an escort”.

Last September, Saudi media reported that a five-year-old girl, left behind by her uncle inside a car, had died of suffocation in the south-western region of Jizan.

Meanwhile, authorities have said that the use of cellphones by back-seat passengers including children is not considered a traffic violation.