RIYADH-The Traffic Directorate has issued directives to all its branches across the Kingdom to start issuing tickets for violations such as not installing child restraints, and allowing children under the age of 10 to travel sitting in front seats of cars.
The fines for the violation range between SR300 and SR500.
According to the traffic regulations, motorists shall provide safety seats for children upon boarding. Children will be allowed to travel sitting in front seats only in cars that do not have rear seats.
The directorate has instructed to hold manual field surveillance by traffic policemen to monitor any violations in this regard in those places where there are no electronic surveillance cameras.
The directorate also directed to slap fines on those who do not comply with the regulations related to wearing seatbelts. Violators of this regulation will be imposed with a fine of not less than SR150 and not more than SR300.
The directorate has instructed to launch intensive campaigns to catch those who commit violations with regard to child restraints and seatbelts, as well as to submit reports to the higher authorities on a daily basis.
Child restraints are allowed to install only in the rear passenger seats. It is noteworthy that car accidents are the number one killer of children between one and 12 years old in the Kingdom.
Half of those who died in motor vehicle crashes under five years of age were unrestrained. Moreover, 72 percent of 3,500 observed car seats and booster seats were misused in a way that could increase a child’s risk of injury in an accident, and 40 percent of children who ride with unrestrained adults are not buckled up.
According to a report of the World Health Organization, child restraints, when correctly installed and used, reduce deaths among infants by approximately 70 percent and deaths among small children by between 54 percent and 80 percent. (SG).
Make sure that a child uses a suitable restraint which is correctly adjusted.(Photo by Highway Code).