DUBAI, 5th July, 2017 (WAM) -- The Roads and Transport Authority, RTA, has announced the rejuvenation of its Child Safety programme for mothers and children, following amendments made by the Ministry of Interior to the Executive Regulation governing the principles and procedures of traffic law enforcement. The revised rules oblige motorists to seat children under 4 years in a dedicated child seat while on-board motor vehicles.
Maitha bin Adai, CEO of RTAs Traffic and Roads Agency, highlighted the importance of these amendments, especially with regards to obliging motorists to have children under 4 restrained in a safety seat when riding a motor vehicle. The RTA is keeping pace with the amendments by enhancing the Child Safety programme, which is implemented throughout the year in cooperation with the Dubai Health Authority. The programme targets children and mothers in various hospitals and health centres by raising awareness on the basics of child safety in vehicles. The awareness programme underscores the importance of using child safety seats, as well as how to choose the correct seat and fix it within the vehicle, she added. According to Bin Adai, the programme's next phase will focus on acquainting individuals with the new amendments where child safety seats are now mandatory, with offenders subject to a AED400 fine and 4 black points. As part of ensuring the effectiveness of the programme, the agency has cooperated with the Monash University Accident Research Centre, MUARC, in Australia. The MUARC is one of the most comprehensive accident and injury prevention research centres worldwide. "Together with the centre, the Traffic and Roads Agency has collected details of 800 parents in the emirate of Dubai to gauge their awareness on the importance of using child safety means for children under 10," said Bin Udai. The survey data captured will examine the underlying reasons for the reluctance of some parents to use child safety seat. Based on findings, the research project will consider ways and means of increasing the use of child protection means in Dubai to enhance child safety on-board motor vehicles, she explained.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.
