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“Children of any age should not be left in a vehicle unattended. Not only can they suffocate within minutes, but they can play with the transmission and controls to move the vehicle from a parked position,” said Aire Said Captain Sai.
“Leaving a child unattended is a criminal offence punishable by law, and Wadima’s laws are harsh for violators. If a guardian leaves a child unattended in a car, it will be punishable by at least Dh5,000 fines, which could lead to imprisonment,” he added.
Like many other countries, the UAE has previously reported fatalities from overheated cars – often when children are left unattended and unable to leave because the internal temperature has risen to unbearable levels. Even when the vehicle is unlocked, if children tamper with the controls or locks, they could end up trapped in the vehicle. Elevated internal temperatures can cause organs to die from heat stroke or suffocation. Research has shown that the temperature inside a locked vehicle can rise to lethal levels of 25 degrees Celsius above the outside temperature within minutes.
Authorities have warned that children may also accidentally endanger themselves if they play with transmissions and controls, which could lead to traffic accidents.
Captain Al Isai referred to a case where a parent in the UAE was engrossed in a work call while driving a child home. When he got home, he forgot the child and locked the car. The baby was dead when he remembered to check the back of his car.
“I hope residents take this as a warning. Whenever you go out, you must make sure to check your vehicle before locking it. Also, no driver or guardian should leave children unattended when leaving the vehicle, even if It’s a minute. Guardians are responsible for the well-being and safety of children,” said Captain Al Isai.
The use of car seats or seat belts to properly protect children in moving vehicles is also mandatory in the UAE.
Captain Al Isai detailed the following fines and penalties for failing to keep children safe in vehicles:
• A Dh5,000 fine for leaving a child unattended in a vehicle and the vehicle will be impounded. Violators could also be jailed.
• A fine of Dh400 for failing to secure a child under the age of 4 in the car seat or placing a child under the age of 10 in the front passenger seat
• In addition, the UAE punishes acts against children under Federal Law No. 3 of 2016 on the Rights of the Child (commonly known as the Wadeema Law). The law punishes child neglect in any way and imposes prison terms and hefty fines on offenders.
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