In the UAE, many drivers and passengers are not wearing seatbelts, putting their lives at risk. Even though seatbelts have been mandatory since 2017, a lot of people still don’t use them. Experts say that wearing a seatbelt can save lives by reducing the impact of a crash. For example, at 120kph, a seatbelt can reduce the force on an adult from 100,521kg to 20,104kg.
Dr. Youssef Abboud from Fekeeh University Hospital says that seatbelts prevent severe injuries by keeping passengers from being thrown around inside the car. In 2022, 60% of road deaths in Abu Dhabi were due to people not wearing seatbelts. Traffic cameras now help catch and fine those not buckling up.
Child seats are also very important. UAE rules require children up to age four to be in child safety seats, and only kids aged 10 and older can sit in the front seat. However, surveys show that many parents still don’t use child seats. Thomas Edelmann from RoadSafetyUAE says more awareness and strict enforcement are needed to keep children safe on the roads.
Globally, road safety remains a concern. The World Health Organization reported that traffic deaths have slightly decreased to 1.1 million per year, but seatbelts remain a critical safety tool. In countries like Saudi Arabia and the US, using seatbelts has significantly reduced road injuries and deaths.
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By Nick Webster. Original content published by thenationalnews.com.