WELCOME FOR LAW TO BUCKLE UP IN BACK
▶ Residents say fines for offenders will make roads safer
Fines for drivers who allow backseat passengers to travel without wearing seat belts has been welcomed by residents.
Drivers can expect a Dh400 fine and four black points against their licences if their passengers have not buckled up. Motorists were also warned children under 4 must be in a child car seat.
Before July 1, the law dictated that only people in the front seats must buckle up.
Police in Ras Al Khaimah said that of the 1,600 traffic fines issued in the week since the law took effect, 183 drivers were fined for not using a seatbelt and 48 had to pay up because their passengers were not restrained.
“It’s the change that I was looking forward to seeing,” said Ola Sultan, an Emirati mother of two from RAK.
“I used to go crazy when I noticed a child sitting in the back seat without a child seat or even a seatbelt. I just pray for Allah to keep him safe.”
Ms Sultan, 31, said she refused to drive unless her children were buckled up.
“It’s really dangerous and I can’t sacrifice losing one of my children,” she said. “I can control myself while driving but I don’t have any control over others and that is an issue.
“Now I see more people using the child seat and I’m extremely happy because they will be fined if they don’t, but they must also to keep their children safe, and it’s our duty to do so.
“The new rules are there to keep us safe.”
Another resident said obeying the law might “take time”.
“Change is not easy and following new rules could take time,” said Mohammed Al Wahi, from Sudan.
“In my opinion the amount of fines should be higher, but it’s a good start.
“I also suggest they police smoking in cars when there are kids in the car. I don’t have children but I feel sad when I see a child sitting in the car next to a smoker.”
RAK Police said it was running campaigns to spread awareness of new rules.
Brig Mohammed Al Humaidi, director general of central operations at RAK police, said that more traffic patrols were on the streets to enforce the law.
He said his force had handed out booklets, held workshops, used social media channels and text messages to communicate with the public.
“The campaigns running throughout the year has also helped in reducing the road accidents rate this year compared to 2016,” Brig Al Humaidi said.
The number of traffic accidents in RAK fell by 35.8 per cent in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2016.
There were 162 accidents in that period last year compared to 104 this year.