Dubai: Dubai Police have seized a vehicle and summoned its driver after a traffic violation was captured by advanced smart radar surveillance systems, showing a child steering a car while sitting on the driver’s lap on a public road.
Major General Saif Muhair Al Mazrouei, Director of the General Department of Traffic at Dubai Police, said that the violation was recorded using the city’s state-of-the-art monitoring technology. Following the incident, the driver was called in for questioning, and the vehicle was impounded.
As a result of the violation, the driver faces a fine of Dh2,000, 23 black traffic points, and a 60-day vehicle impoundment.
Dubai Police’s smart detection systems recently detected a driver endangering his child’s life by allowing the child to sit on his lap while driving. According to Federal Traffic Law, front-seat passengers must be at least 145 cm tall and over the age of 10.#RoadSafety pic.twitter.com/YUMKcBpfZ1
— Dubai Policeشرطة دبي (@DubaiPoliceHQ) March 14, 2025
Traffic rule
Major General Al Mazrouei said that federal traffic laws strictly prohibit children under the age of ten or shorter than 145cm from sitting in the front seat, due to the inherent dangers involved. He warned that such actions put children at significant risk of severe injuries or even death in the event of an accident.
“The force of a collision can throw a child against the vehicle’s interior or even eject them from the car,” Al Mazrouei explained. “Additionally, airbags deploy with great force in crashes, which can cause serious injuries to younger children or those in unsafe positions. Front-seat seat belts are designed for adults, and they can increase the likelihood of head, chest, or neck injuries for children.”
He also noted that Dubai Police’s surveillance technology includes features capable of capturing video footage of dangerous traffic violations that could lead to fatal accidents.
Parent warned
He also urged parents to keep their children out of the front seat, stressing the grave risks it poses to their safety. He also highlighted that driving requires maturity, responsibility, and a strong commitment to ensuring the safety of all road users.
Al Mazrouei encouraged the public to report dangerous driving behaviours through the “Police Eye” feature on the Dubai Police app or by calling the “We Are All Police” hotline at 901.
