Abu Dhabi police warn against leaving child in car alone

As part of the UAE’s ‘Safe Summer’ campaign, police in Abu Dhabi have warned residents against leaving their children unattended in cars, which could prompt serious health risks including suffocation or heat stroke, especially during the summer months.

Authorities have issued a fresh warning to families about the need to take good care of their children, with the crime of leaving a child alone in a vehicle triggering a penalty of not less than Dh5,000 on the guardian. This could be accompanied by a prison sentence, too.

During an interview on local television, Captain Mohammed Hamad Al Isai, director of the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, cited a recent incident of a child who choked to death in the sweltering heat when his father forgot him inside the car.

“Guardians Are Responsible For The Well-Being And Safety Of Children”

The father was apparently busy addressing a work-related phone call throughout the journey and had forgotten the child who was sleeping when he moved out of the vehicle and locked it after reaching home. It was after some time when the man realised his mistake.

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But by the time he rushed back to the parked car to check, the child had already died. The officer said he hoped families would take the shocking incident as a warning, stressing “guardians are responsible for the well-being and safety of children.”

Leaving a child, sick person or an elderly person inside a locked vehicle unattended or forgotten exposes them to the risk of suffocation due to the lack of oxygen caused by warming inside the vehicle. Police also warn against leaving a car engine running when a child is inside alone.