Abu Dhabi: Almost all UAE residents are aware of the dangers of driving without a seatbelt but some neglect to buckle-up anyway, 999 Magazine’s national driving survey revealed.
More than 1,300 readers were polled in the English monthly publication of the Ministry of Interior and the results showed that 99 per cent of UAE residents are mindful of the risks of travelling without wearing a seatbelt. However, a list of other surveys unanimously pointed to the fact that most UAE residents are complacent when it comes to adhering to seatbelt safety standards.
Not using proper child seats was also among the Top 10 Road Safety Problems in the survey, ranking nine in the list.
Overall, the number of accidents and deaths on UAE roads is actually decreasing, 999 Magazine reports.
Abu Dhabi Police reported a 45 per cent decline in deaths on the emirate’s roads, as the number went from 130 to 71, over the first four months of this year compared with the same period in 2011.
During the same period, Dubai saw a 32 per cent drop in the number of road deaths as 38 were recorded compared to 56 last year.
But the analysis of the fatalities shows a chilling trend: traffic accidents are by far the leading cause of death among infants. In fact, accidents are responsible for 63 per cent of deaths among children aged 14 and younger in the UAE, according to a report published by the Dubai Health Authority in May.
This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 22.3 per cent of child fatalities caused by vehicles.
The reason for this staggeringly high number is that most drivers in the UAE do not make their children wear seat belts.
Similarly, a study by the UAE University, on the other hand, showed that only 2 per cent of the population fasten car seats on their children or strap them in with a safety belt.
Federal traffic law requires front seat passengers to wear seat belts, with a Dh400 fine and four black points for offenders. The federal authorities are currently discussing new legislation to enforce seat belt rules.
Similarly, a BMW survey of 325 UAE students aged between 18 and 23, found that 55 per cent did not consistently wear a seat belt, although 92 per cent knew of someone who had been involved in a car accident.
Lieutenant Colonel Awad Saleh Al Kindi, editor-in-chief of 999, said: “Keeping our children safe is our moral and social responsibility. Unfortunately, many people still do not wear safety belts in the front seats, despite it being mandatory.”
