BE CAUTIOUS, FOLLOW RULES
Driving safely is so important for you and for other drivers on the road. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
The UAE’s amended federal traffic law came into effect from July 1, meaning new fines and regulations are now in place. These new changes have led to a major overhaul regarding licence issuance and renewal and new traffic control rules and procedures.
Visit this link to find out more about the updated rules - http://interactive.khaleejtimes. com/DXBtraffic/
Driving safely is important for you and for other drivers on the road. Even though the wheel is in the driver’s hand, the experience can be improved by using essential ancillary products such as high quality car seats, tyres, and lubricants to help ensure a safer journey.
Car seats: birth to booster
A car seat is an essential piece of child safety equipment. If you plan to take your baby home from the hospital in a car, you’ll need a car seat from day one. Children should be properly restrained in a car seat, usually until they are at least seven years old. It is also now recommended for children to ride in a booster seat until they reach a weight of 30 kg.
If you need more convincing, keep in mind that car crash injuries are a leading cause of death for children under nine. The reason? Many children aren’t properly restrained. Proper use of car seats could prevent fatality. Around 75 per cent of car accidents happen on local roads or undivided highways, and half of the accidents involving children occur on streets where the speed limit is 80 km or less.
So this is one piece of baby gear you may want to invest in long before your little one arrives. In fact, it’s a good idea to start shopping for a car seat around your sixth to eighth month of pregnancy. That should give you plenty of time to select the right seat. Here are some points to keep in mind while buying a car seat:
Birth to 12 months: Your child should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and all-in-one car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
One to three years: Keep your child facing the rear for as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep them safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the car seat, he/ she is ready to travel in a forwardfacing car seat with a harness.
Four to seven years: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
Eight to 12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
Child car seats can be installed using ISOFIX fittings or car seat belts. ISOFIX is the international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars.
But how do you decide on the best car seat installation for your car? Whichever method you choose, it’s crucial to install your car seat correctly. Always follow the user manual or ask an expert retailer to show you what to do. Using the ISOFIX method minimises the risk of incorrect installation. Child car seats fitted using seat belts are often installed and used incorrectly. It provides a solid, permanent connection between the car seat and the car body and is proven to be outstandingly safe in tests.
The advantages of the seat belt method are that it is very safe if installed properly. It is also flexible and easy to switch your car seat between cars. But its cons are that up to eight out of 10 inexperienced parents install their car seat incorrectly when using a seat belt. This dramatically reduces the protection offered to your child in a crash. Car seats that use seat belts take more time to install than those installed with ISOFIX.
Safety tests show that ISOFIX is extremely safe. The risk of incorrect installation is low; 94 per cent of parents use ISOFIX correctly. Just one click attaches the car seat solidly to the car. Furthermore, an extra support leg or top tether strap increases stability, keeping your child securely in place. Most cars manufactured over the past 10 years should have ISOFIX fittings.