Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1651506-children-car-seat-injury-in-abudahbi-program-plan
https://studentshare.org/health-sciences-medicine/1651506-children-car-seat-injury-in-abudahbi-program-plan.
Children Car Seat Injury in Abu Dhabi - Program Plan Children Car Seat Injury in Abu Dhabi- Program PlanIntroductionTraffic accidents are one of the highest causes of deaths being reported every year all over the world (Khaleej Times, 2012). In UAE, like other high income countries, transportation infrastructure and traffic systems have been developed considerably to decrease traffic incidents, however, lack of regulations in relation to safe driving and journey has been a major cause of deaths from traffic accidents (Brass, et al., 2008). The founder of the Road Safety UAE website, Mr.
Thomas Edelmann, notes that, “And not just the pure presence of those life saving devices in the car is non-negotiable, but their actual use. When it comes to kids in the car, the motto is ‘No belt - no start’,” (Khan, 2014). Aim and ObjectivesThe proposed aim of the study is to investigate how children car safety is perceived by residents in Abu Dhabi and whether car seat safety regulations for children are implementable or not in their views.This proposed research aim is can be broken down into the below mentioned research objectives for the proposed research:To investigate how drivers in Abu Dhabi perceive children car safety measures;To determine whether car safety regulations for children are implementable as per the views of drivers in Abu Dhabi; and To recommend policies and programs for controlling children death rate from traffic accidents.
Brief Literature ReviewResearch works in past have indicated that use of seat belts in car significantly lower mortality rates in traffic accidents. Keeping in view the significance of seat belts, many developed and developing countries have made it mandatory for adults and children to wear seat belts at all times while moving in a car. Researchers like Zhu, et al. (2007), Daly, et al. (2006), Durbin, et al. (2005) have all found seat belts usage to be extremely effective in reducing deaths and injuries resulting from road accidents.
In UAE the requirement for drivers and front seat occupant to wear seat belt was implemented in 1998; however, no such regulations exist with specific regard to children sitting on rear seats of a car (Brass, et al., 2008; Abu Dhabi Government, 2014; Time Out Abu Dhabi, 2012; Time Out Abu Dhabi, 2011). As per the statistics provided in different newspapers, road accidents and most of the resulting injuries have been associated with not wearing seat belts by the passengers. In this regard, The National reported in 2013 that “A study at Al Ain Hospital found the most common cause of head injury was a road traffic collision (67.
1 per cent) …” (Bell, 2013). Apart from this, Dr. Ashraf Hefny, who is a specialist surgeon in the Al Rahba Hospital (Abu Dhabi), the death rate from traffic accidents in the UAE is 37 to 100,000 of population. This rate is considered a very rate when compared globally with other countries (Bell, 2013).In addition to this, The National reported that a study of car accidents in Al Ain reported that about 98 percent of passengers involved in a car accident did not wear seat belts and no one used a child safety restraint in the car (Bell, 2013a).
Similarly, Amira (2012) reported in her article published in Gulf News that “Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among infants and responsible for 63 per cent of deaths among children aged 14 and younger in the UAE, according to Dubai Health Authority officials.” (Asad, 2012). On the other hand, it has also been reported that only 2 percent of child passengers in Abu Dhabi wear a seat belt or have other protective measures (Media GM, 2010). Apart from the fact that the Ministry of Interior has been urging drivers to use seat belts and restraints for children (Gulf News, 2012; Ruiz, 2012), only 20 percent of drivers in UAE have reported that they ensure that a passenger child has his seat belt fastened (Harbinson, 2014).
Keeping in view the importance of road safety and protection of children in case of a road accident, the UAE government has initiated plans to bring significant changes in the traffic laws and make it mandatory for all passengers to wear seat belts, including child and rear seat passengers (Kawach, 2014; Kannan, 2013; Almazroui, 2014; Moukhallati, 2014).Proposed MethodsThe proposed research will be a primary research work aimed at collecting primary information from a sample of individuals residing in Abu Dhabi and who have kids.
In this regard, it has been planned to carry out interviews with the selected individuals, which would include questions aimed at obtaining their views regarding children car seat safety programs and procedures and how do they consider them as implementable. This follows that the research work will be qualitative in nature, as the nature of information obtained through interviews will be qualitative (Gravetter & Forzano, 2011; Saunders, et al., 2007). Apart from this, the researcher will also take assistance from Abu Dhabi Police and Ministry of Interior in relation to this proposed program plan.
Proposed Analysis TechniquesThe primary information obtained from survey will be analysed using thematic analysis approach. This analysis approach enables a researcher to identify common themes in the primary information and literature reviewed to determine patterns and thereby reach conclusions with respect to specific research objectives. List of ReferencesAbu Dhabi Government, 2014. Rules for Road Safety. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Almazroui, A., 2014. It’s time to take a tougher stance on child safety in cars.
[Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Asad, A., 2012. Road crashes main cause of child death in UAE. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Bell, J., 2013a. 98 per cent of passengers in car crashes were not wearing seat belts, study finds. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Bell, J., 2013. Road accidents account for almost 70% of head injuries at one UAE hospital. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Brass, P. et al., 2008. Prevalence and Issues in Non-Use of Safety Belts and Child Restraints in a High-Income Developing Country: Lessons for the Future.
Traffic Injury Prevention,, Volume 9, pp. 256-263.Daly, L., Kallan, M. J., Arbogast, K. B. & Durbin, D. R., 2006. Risk of Injury to Child Passengers in Sport Utility Vehicles. Pediatrics, Volume 117, pp. 9-14.Durbin, D. R. et al., 2005. Effects of Seating Position and Appropriate Restraint Use on the Risk of Injury to Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes. Pediatrics, Volume 115, pp. e305-309.Gravetter, F. J. & Forzano, L.-A. B., 2011. Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences. Belmont: Cengage Learning.
Gulf News, 2012. Ministry of Interior calls for child seats. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Harbinson, D., 2014. UAE parents say “no” to free child car seats. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Kannan, P., 2013. Renewed calls to make car seats compulsory for UAE children. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Kawach, N., 2014. UAE poised for major traffic law changes. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Khaleej Times, 2012. Use child car seats to save your little ones from injury.
[Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Khan, M. N. A., 2014. Long-awaited UAE child car seat law ‘may be in place next year’. The National, 14 March. Media GM, 2010. Road Accidents Remain a leading Cause of Death for Abu Dhabi’s Children. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Moukhallati, D., 2014. Renewed calls to get back-seat passengers in the UAE to buckle up. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10. July 2014].Ruiz, R., 2012. UAE call for compulsory car seats for children under 10.
[Online] Available at: [Accessed 9 July 2014].Saunders, M., Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A., 2007. Research Methods for Business Students. New York: Pearson Education.Time Out Abu Dhabi, 2011. The regulations you need to know in Abu Dhabi. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Time Out Abu Dhabi, 2012. The law in Abu Dhabi. [Online] Available at: [Accessed 10 July 2014].Zhu, M., Cummings, P., Chu, H. & Cook, L. J., 2007. Association of Rear Safety Belt Use with death in a Traffic Crash: A Matched Cohort Study. Inj. Prev.
, Volume 13, pp. 183-185.
Read More