The UAE Cabinet has approved a draft local policy to regulate child car seats in vehicles, as suggested by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology and its technical regulations.

As per the new policy, drivers must provide child car seats for children under the age of four, reported state news agency Wam.

The draft policy aims to implement the highest standards of security and safety for children in vehicles, with the aim of enhancing their quality of life and reducing the rate of local accidents involving children, reported state news agency Wam.

Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, State Minister and Chairman of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, stressed that the new policy will reduce the rate of accidents involving children.

"Studies have shown that collisions involving children without a seat belt while going through a windshield of a vehicle running at 50 kilometres per hour, is equivalent to the fall of an individual from the third floor of a building. Therefore, it is considered a deadly accident," noted Dr Rashid.

He noted that the correct implementation of related policies and regulations will increase the likelihood of protecting children inside vehicles during accidents, adding that this is a practical step in reducing the rate of deaths, and will achieve the introduction of the highest international safety and security standards.

He also stressed that the correct implementation of this policy will contribute to regulating the child car seat market in the UAE, and reduce serious injuries and deaths among infants in accidents.

The new policy will provide safeguards for the public regarding safety-related products, through regulations, laws and resolutions that aim to promote safety and protect lives, he added.