UAE- Buckle 'em up: Child seats reduce crash deaths

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) It's mere negligence of parents if they leave their children in the car seats without buckling up say police road safety experts and doctors in the UAE.

The blame must be put on parents if they neglect the safety of their child who may die or get critically injured in a car accident simply because they were not safely strapped. Experts are calling on parents and drivers to put an end to the habit of allowing children to sit on passengers' laps and to buckle them up.

With the number of road accidents recorded last year hitting 4788 which caused 675 deaths and 6263 injuries as revealed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) it is no wonder that passengers are urged to use seatbelts wisely or face the consequences.

The ministry revealed that in 2014 accidents caused deaths of 55 people under the age of 18 while 148 car accidents involved children in which 572 youngsters sustained moderate to serious injuries.

Child deaths as a result of car accidents accounted for 7.7 per cent of the 712 people killed thus estimating that one child died each week.

In many of the cases children under the age of 10 had also been found sitting in the front seat without buckling up.

The institute of Public Health at the UAE University in Al Ain conducted a study on crashes in Al Ain and found that 98 per cent of passengers were not wearing seatbelts nor was a single child restraint used.

The mindset of drivers and passengers in the UAE must change especially when it comes to the safety of children argue police officials.

Colonel Ahmed Al Zeyoudi Deputy Head of the Capital's Traffic Department Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police told Khaleej Times: "The use of the seatbelt is not a preventative measure only; but a binding action."

Recent deaths of children in crashes

> March 2016: Three Egyptian siblings were killed after a speeding truck crashed into the car they were travelling in on Al Dhaid Road Sharjah. Their mother who was driving the car and two other siblings were injured in the crash.

> January 2016: A four-year-old Asian boy died and seven members of his family were seriously injured when their car overturned in Ras Al Khaimah after the driver tried to avert a pit filled with rain water.

> December 2015: A pregnant woman and child were killed after a car changed lanes suddenly and crashed into their car on Emirates Road Dubai.

"The seatbelt is one of the reasons of survival for many as it helps avoid injuries and deaths in traffic accidents."

He noted that seatbelts remain "a highly effective tool in reducing collisions since the belt grips during the momentum of the vehicle."

Furthermore children under the age of 10 must be seated in the back as violation invites a fine of Dh400 and four traffic points.

"It is against the law for children under the age of 10 to sit in front" he noted.

Colonel Al Zeyoudi stressed the importance of having child seats inside the vehicle fitted with a belt.

Colonel Saif Mohair Al Mazroui Director of the General Department of Traffic at the Dubai Police said the department is focusing on child car seats for those below the age of 12 and seatbelts for children above 12. Those who travel in the back seat should also use seatbelts as the number of injuries and deaths of people travelling in the back seats are rising. "When an accident occurs the car suddenly swerves and stops. Passengers are thrown to the front or sideways violently if the speed of the vehicle is 100kmph or above. To avoid this it is a must that those sitting in the back seats also should use seatbelts" he said.

Col Al Mazroui said that the Dubai police issued 109 tickets to motorists in 2015 for not wearing seatbelts.

"It is shocking that many people do not wear seatbelts and this is a large contributing factor to death and injuries in accidents."

He said that the Dubai Police have spread awareness among 40000 students on the importance of wearing seatbelts in the rear seat.

Using child seats can reduce crash deaths by 70%

A study by the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed that approximately 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes worldwide each year with up to 50 million injured.

WHO also noted that the correct use of child seats can reduce the likelihood of car-crash deaths by 70 per cent in infants and by 54 to 80 per cent among young children.

Moreover WHO indicated that in an event of a crash which is speeding at 50 kilometers per hour an unrestrained child would be thrown forward with a force comparable to falling from a three-story building.

"Without a proper child car seat a sudden brake or collision could result in a child being thrown around and out of the car" the WHO said.

(With inputs from Amira Agarib)