(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) uring the same week Khaleej Times released a report highlighting the imminent need for a federal law making it mandatory to wear the seat belt in the back seat, a Dubai school launched a campaign spreading awareness on the importance of child safety in cars.
Organised by Universal American School's Parent Teacher Organisation (UAS PTO) and in collaboration with the Dubai Traffic Police, senior students from the school acted as law enforcers during the week-long 'Seat Belt Safety' campaign.
Throughout the school's drop off and pick up times, parents and children wearing seat belts were rewarded sweets in return for buckling up, but for those caught unstrapped, mock fines were handed over along with a warning on the importance of wearing a seat belt.
Speaking from the school on Wednesday, officer Juma Ali Saif bin Humaidan from Dubai Traffic Police said awareness campaigns like AUS's 'Seat Belt Safety' contribute greatly to keeping Dubai's roads safe.
SPREADING THE MESSAGE ... Muzammil Iqbal, Ziyad Ali, Shereen Kaskas and Sarah Abdul Jalil.
"Although there is no law on back-seat belt wearing, campaigns like this really drive the message home to both parents and children on how important it is to buckle up when on the road."
He said that continued media coverage like Khaleej Times' recent report 'Belting out a tune for child safety', should help see a federal law being passed in Dubai in the coming years.
"Dubai is progressing so fast as a city and it's becoming the best in the world in many areas. Right now Dubai Traffic Police is really steering a lot of focus on child safety in cars."
Currently Dubai has a law where it is mandatory for all passengers and drivers in the front seats to wear seat belts, but rules relating to the backseat are non existent.
Despite this, Dubai Traffic Police officers can issue fines of up to Dh410 to parents who allow their children to travel without a seat belt. "It is up to the officer if he/she fines the driver or not, but a lot of the time we just advise them on the importance of wearing seat belts and give them a warning. I think this sends out a clearer message to them." The campaign, which started on Sunday and concludes today, saw a daily average of 400 students and parents being rewarded with sweets, or 'white points', although on the first day, AUS PTO President, Kapil Sachdeva, said 110 parents were handed 'black points' in the form of a mock fine.
"That was on day one, but what we've noticed is that parents are aware we're on the lookout so now they're ensuring their kids are wearing seat belts. That shows our safety leaflets and words of encouragement are having a positive effect on each child's safety."
One student who was awarded a chocolate treat for wearing her seat belt on Wednesday was four-year-old Farah Najjar. Her father, Wagdy Saied, said he always ensures Farah is buckled up in the back on every journey, no matter how short the distance.
Speaking ahead of the campaign, Lt-Colonel Ext. Omar Moosa Hassan Ashoor of Al Rashidiya Police Station said they are seeing too many instances of parents not insisting on seat belts.
"Seat belts play a crucial role in road safety and saving lives, and Dubai Police is happy to be working with UAS to impart this important message to the school community."
A live rollover simulation with a real car (provided by Emirates Driving Institute) was also part of the campaign and senior students, Sarah Abdul Jalil, 16, Shereen Kaskas, 16, Ziyad Ali, 17 and Muzammil Iqbal, 16 - who were all acting as 'law enforcers' on Wednesday - got to experience the car accident simulation.
"It was pretty scary being inside the car, but we were all wearing seat belts. There was a dummy inside without a seat belt though, so when the car rolled, it was thrown around the car. That was crazy to see," they told Khaleej Times.
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