JEDDAH: A large number of people in Saudi Arabia do not know the legal requirements for using child seatbelts, according to a survey.
The survey, conducted by car company INFINITI Middle East, is part of a major new road safety awareness campaign titled “Eyes on You,” which highlights the impact of parents’ on-road behavior on children.
Following approval by the Interior Ministry, Saudi Arabia is adopting a new traffic system, under which the penalty for not having car seats for children is a fine of between SR300 ($80) and SR500 ($133).
Housewife Hadeel Radwan, who has 2-year-old twin girls and a 1-year-old son, told Arab News: “I was raised to always follow safety regulations because they’re there for a reason. If I put a seatbelt on then my life matters, and so should my children’s.”
She said: “If my child trips, it’s OK because he or she will get back up and move on. But when accidents happen — something I can’t control — as a parent I have an obligation to protect them to the best of my abilities.”
She added: “Parents should be prepared and briefed from the hospital on the day of delivery to provide these seats and boosters.”
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The penalty for not having car seats for children is a fine of between SR300 ($80) and SR500 ($133).
Radwan strongly disapproves of parents who drive with their children on their lap. “Parents should be more aware of the damage that can happen to a child, even from the slightest bump or pothole,” she said.
“I can’t say why exactly, but some may be just careless, some have no idea about a car seat, some can’t afford it, and some just want more people to fit in the car. A car seat can go up to the age of 12 years.” Teaching assistant Sara Bayazeed, a mother to a 12-month-old son, strongly advises the use of child car seats.
“There are crazy drivers out there. Even if we drive reasonably, we don’t know if the other person’s car is functioning properly, or there could be uncontrollable circumstances,” she told Arab News. “I believe car seats teach children to be more disciplined.”
Fines are a must to force parents to use child car seats, said Bayazeed, “just like anywhere else in the world where children’s safety is important.”
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