New Rules Boost Road Safety

The temperatures here are scorching this summer. The need for maintenance and repair always increases during the summer with more tire blowouts and breakdowns. The high temperatures take a heavy toll on the tires and all the vehicle components. Many of us take short and long road trips during this season. Before we leave home, we need to thoroughly check our vehicle’s AC system, tires and engine to ensure that we are able to travel safely and comfortably.

The heat will be turned up on motorists in more ways than one with the tougher new fines that will be imposed on erring motorists from July 1 in Dubai.

One of the most welcome changes is that seatbelts are now mandatory for all passengers in a car including children. Over 50 per cent of people who die in car accidents were not wearing a seatbelt. When it is worn correctly, using a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45%, and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%. Do we still need more motivation to belt up?

Another welcome new rule is that all children under four years of age should be using age-appropriate car seats. In view of the fact that road accidents are the leading cause of death among children in the UAE (63 per cent of the deaths are caused by accidents) and 90 per cent of the children are unrestrained, it is high time that car seats are made compulsory. Children are our future. They are highly vulnerable and it is our duty to ensure that they get maximum protection while on the road. With the implementation of the new rules, motorists will hopefully drive more cautiously on the roads and be less distracted while at the wheel.

Here is to wishing you all a safe and happy summer on the roads this year.