Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has reminded motorists about the proper seating position for children in moving vehicles, emphasizing that ensuring a child’s safety is a responsibility, not an option.
In a statement, the Ministry said that allowing children under the age of ten to sit in the front seat of a vehicle constitutes a clear traffic violation and poses a serious safety risk, as stipulated in Clause (3) of Article (55) of the Traffic Law.
The Ministry cautioned that children under ten seated in the front seat are eight times more likely to sustain serious injuries than adults in the event of a traffic accident.
“The airbag, designed to protect adults, can be fatal for children due to its force and their smaller body size,” the Ministry noted.
Authorities reiterated that children should always be seated in the rear seat and secured in an age- and weight-appropriate child safety seat. Adults must also ensure that the safety seat is properly fastened and that seatbelts are used on every trip.
The Ministry further urged adults never to leave a child unattended inside a vehicle under any circumstance.
