UAE Experts Urge Vigilance as Children Take to Bikes and E-Scooters This Winter
With the arrival of cooler weather and school holidays, children across the UAE are eagerly riding bicycles and electric scooters outdoors. While this active play is encouraged, road safety experts and authorities are issuing urgent calls for increased parental vigilance to prevent serious accidents during the winter season.
A Season of Increased Risk
The pleasant winter temperatures naturally lead to more outdoor activity. However, safety specialists warn that these popular vehicles, especially motorized e-scooters, pose significant risks when children use them without proper supervision, safety gear, or in unsafe locations.
Recent tragic incidents underscore this danger, including a fatal e-scooter accident involving a 10-year-old boy in Umm Al Quwain this month. Other reports detail close calls with traffic, prompting police warnings about unsupervised and reckless riding in neighborhoods.
The Critical Role of Parents and Safety Gear
Experts emphasize that parental responsibility is paramount. Parents must assess their child’s maturity and ensure strict safety protocols are followed:
Mandatory Protective Gear: Children must always wear a properly fitted helmet, knee and elbow pads, and reflective or bright clothing to increase visibility.
Active Supervision: Young children should be actively supervised by an adult. For older kids, parents must ensure they ride in safe areas.
Choose Safe Locations: Riding should be confined to designated cycling paths, parks, or safe residential areas, away from main roads and traffic.
Educate on Rules:Â Teach children basic road safety, including stopping at intersections, avoiding sudden moves, and not weaving between pavement and road.
Authorities Step Up Awareness and Enforcement
UAE police forces are reinforcing this message through public campaigns:
Ajman Police have issued alerts urging parents to monitor their children and highlighting the dangers of riding in traffic.
Abu Dhabi Police are running winter safety initiatives focused on scooter riders, promoting traffic law compliance.
Sharjah authorities previously confiscated thousands of improperly used e-scooters and bicycles, stressing the need for helmets and safe riding zones.
A Shared Goal: Fun Without Tragedy
The collective message from experts and officials is clear: winter should be a time for healthy, active fun, not preventable accidents. By combining parental oversight, proper safety equipment, and choosing safe environments, families can ensure their children enjoy the outdoors without unnecessary risk.
This season, let’s prioritize safety to keep the winter holidays joyful and accident-free for all young riders.
