Proposed changes in the new traffic law envision stiff fines against people if they do not install safety seats for children in cars, an official at the Royal Oman Police has warned.
Those found in breach of this norm are liable to attract fines ranging from RO 35 to RO 50, the official said. “All children must be safely fastened in a child car seat correct for their age and size. A child who is properly secured in an approved child car seat is less likely to be injured or killed in a crash than one who is not.” Traffic regulations require that children under 7 years of age must be placed in a suitable restraint that is properly adjusted and fastened.
According to the official, children up to the age of six months must be secured in an approved rearward facing restraint while children in the age group of six months to less than four years must be secured in either a rear or forward-facing approved child restraint with an inbuilt harness. Children aged four years and above but less than seven years cannot travel in the front seat of a vehicle with two or more rows, unless all other back seats are occupied by children younger than seven years in an approved child restraint or booster seat.
However, the official clarified that if the child is too large for the child restraint specified for their age, they may move to the next level of child restraint. “Likewise, if your child is too small for the child restraint specified for their age, they should be kept in their current child restraint until it is safe for them to move to the next level,” he explained. Motorists are generally well aware of the benefits of installing child safety seats in their vehicles, says a mother. “A car seat with an in-built harness provides better protection to a child than a booster seat with the adult seat belt. Children must be a bare minimum of 4 years old before using a booster seat. Families should continue to use a car seat with an in-built harness for as long as the child still fits,” she said.
Source: OmanObserver