Abu Dhabi Police have issued a serious warning to parents and drivers to never leave children unattended in vehicles, especially as temperatures across the UAE keep rising.
With daytime highs in temperature expected between 45°C and 48°C on a daily basis and sometimes even going higher, police are urging the public to recognise the life-threatening risks of leaving children in parked cars, even for a few minutes.
Authorities warned that leaving children alone in the vehicles can lead to oxygen depletion and suffocation, heatstrokes or that the children may accidental tamper with the vehicle or lock themselves inside. Recent cases of such accidents that could have been avoided prompted this warning from the authorities.
Leaving a child inside a vehicle, intentionally or due to forgetfulness, constitutes a criminal offence, punishable under the Child Rights Law (Wadeema Law). Legal consequences include imprisonment or a minimum fine of Dhs 50,000 for the parent or guardian responsible for the negligence.
Authorities are urging all families to be vigilant about their children to prevent tragic incidents during the summers.