Dhs5,400 fine in Abu Dhabi for making child sit in car’s front seat

ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi Police warned members of the public not to allow children in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

The police said that children below the age of 10 would not be allowed to sit in the front.

The authorities said those who are caught risking the lives of children would be heavily penalised.

The Police said according to the Law No. (5) of 2020 regarding the seizure of vehicles in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for the violation of allowing a child under the age of ten years to sit in the front seat of the vehicle.

A fine of Dhs400 will be imposed on the motorists, plus the financial value for dismantling the seized vehicle would be Dhs5,000.

The police said the payment to release the vehicle must be paid within three months.

The police stressed that in the event of non-payment of the dues, the vehicle would be referred for sale in the public auction.

The police urged parents to be aware of the major risks posed by placing their children on their laps while driving, highlighting its keenness to promote the culture of traffic and raise awareness of relevant preventive measures and how to safely seat children in vehicles.

It also pointed out the importance of seating children under the age of four in appropriate child seats.

They should be put in a child seat and restrained by the seatbelt when being seated in the rear of the vehicle. This must be followed till the child becomes as tall as 145cm.

“When they reach this height, they should then use seat belts,” police added.

As part of its continuous efforts to lead the Abu Dhabi Government’s digital future, the Department of Government Support – Abu Dhabi (DGS), represented by the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA), has announced that it has completed development of its model for traffic safety and road accident reduction, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Police.

The two departments have launched the ‘VAST’ system for automated detection of seat belt and mobile phone violations.

The ‘ VAST’ (Vehicular Atention and Safety Tracker) system, aims to preserve the safety of drivers, passengers and all road users, as well as raising awareness and educating the community on the importance of following safe driving practices, as part of efforts to lead the digital future of the Abu Dhabi Government and enable an innovative and effective digital government.

The Abu Dhabi Police has developed a radar monitoring system to capture high-resolution images under a variety of conditions via artificial intelligence cameras, which help with analying images and rapidly detect seat belt and mobile phone violations. Offending drivers will receive an SMS notification of the violation directing them to rectify their behaviour immediately.

Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, DirectorGeneral of the Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, said: “This cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Police comes as part of ADDA’S efforts to utilise accurate data analysis and benefit from the latest technologies to enable a digital government that is proactive, personalised, collaborative and secure.

Al Askar added: “The traffic safety and road accident reduction model will significantly contribute to reducing accident and injury rates, thus enhancing traffic safety levels across the emirate.”

Major General Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi, Director-general of the Abu Dhabi Police, said: “The Abu Dhabi Police is persistent in its efforts to promote safe driving practices and protect human lives by implementing traffic laws. The joint cooperation with the ADDA supports our vision to ensure that Abu Dhabi remains a safe and secure society.”

Al Sharifi explained that the ‘VAST’ system was implemented in five phases: Camera and Edge Devices, Image Review Module, SMS Notification, Performance Dashboard, and Model Retraining.

The Data and Modern Technology team from ADDA worked closely with the relevant team from the Abu Dhabi Police to develop this joint analytical model by collecting, tracking, analysing and processing data using artificial intelligence techniques.

Meanwhile, the Traffic and Patrols Directorate of Abu Dhabi Police calls on owners of heavy vehicles, trucks, buses as well as on owners and officials at companies transporting labourers to alert drivers of these types of vehicles to abide by the decision banning their movement during foggy weather and to enhance precautionary measures to avoid traffic accidents, to ensure everyone’s safety.

Violating buses and trucks moving on the roads during the fog time will get a fine of Dhs500 and 4 blacks points according to the article No104 of the decree No. 178 of 2017 regarding driving in times of fog in violation of the instructions of the concerned authority.

Intermitent fog blanketed separate areas of the UAE on Wednesday morning.

The fog would likely to start at midnight on Wednesday, and continued until 10am on Thursday, due to high surface air depression, accompanied by a high air extension in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

Motorists have been urged to exercise caution in the streets.