Kids’ safety in cars: A reminder for all parents
Manama : The abduction of a five-year-old girl from a car in Hoora on Tuesday throws light on the necessity of ensuring safety of children while travelling. Primarily such incidents show lackadaisical attitude by parents—leaving children unattended in cars and ignoring safety measures like installing booster seats or child restraints.
Moreover, children lying down on the parcel shelves of moving cars are ubiquitous on roads. Though, it is safe for children under 12 years to sit in the rear seat, it advisable to wear a seat belt. Children under five years are not allowed to travel in the front seat of a car.
Isa Mohammed, a parent of two children, said, “During these hot days, our car turns like a hot oven very quickly. An overheated car can cause severe health hazards like choking, or breathing difficulty. I have always advised my children to use a seat belt while sitting in the back seat.”
“But, kids lying down on the parcel space of cars have become a common scene on the roads,” he added.
Danger involved
In the event of an accident, children sitting in the rear seats or occupying the parcel space may affect the most. “Most of the accidents occur during short journeys. Parents might ignore safety measures since it’s a short-distance journey,” remarked an auto expert.
“Adult seat belts are not designed for small children, so it is highly recommended that parents should tell their children to use a booster seat. They should never allow them to sit causally or unattended,” he said.
A properly fitted child car seat will help prevent children from being flung off or ejected during an accident. It will also absorb the impact of the mishap. “Awareness by the government authorities can bring about a tremendous change,” he added.
DT News has contacted the Ministry of Traffic Directorate in this regard.
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