Why parents put children in danger
DOHA: Mothers carrying toddlers in their laps while driving vehicles is a common sight here. In the absence of a law prohibiting such a practice, parents strap children inside vehicles whichever way they please or, better yet, put them in the back seat to play. Ignorance on this issue can result in a parent’s worse nightmare, warns a traffic expert.
“A child can die instantly if an airbag deploys during a sudden stop or collision,” said the expert. According to the traffic law in Qatar, children below 10 years of age cannot sit in the front seat.
Far from being sufficient, the law gives parents the liberty to put their children in harm’s way.
Parents normally drive cautiously when children are in the vehicle. But the same cannot be said of the 691,000 drivers on Qatar’s roads, 47 percent of whom were involved in traffic accidents in 2010, according to Traffic Department figures.
The National Health Strategy 2011-2016 reveals that in 2008, nine percent of road deaths were of children under the age of nine. The NHS calls for promoting the use of infant car seats as one of the most important actions that will produce quick results.
The ‘three-point lap and diagonal’ seat belt used by adults for safety is not designed for children’s varying size, weight and the relative proportion of their bodies. Infants and children need a child restraint system such as infant seats, child seats and booster seats, which protects them in case of a mishap on the road.
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/qatar/168281-why-parents-put-children-i...
jjj75--and where exactly did I say I was not following the law? LOL. It's like you read one sentence like Fubar from a non-Westerner, and then go into full hypocrisy and judgment mode. I made clear above that I strap my children in according to the law. My objecting is that you and others think it your jobs to enforce the law and judge people. That is the job of Qatari police and courts. And per your comments above, the police and courts are choosing to not enforce the law too strictly and leaving parents with the choice.
2012 isn't against the Emir. He just thinks the Emir is stupid for making laws about restraining children.
Parents know best, not the Emir. Right?
2012 - just get back in your box and stop spouting such drivel - please see my comments on obese children, that should give you some ammunition.
AND here is a thought - not strapping children in is against the law, this is a monarchical state headed by the Emir, who makes/approves the laws here, therefore if you are not strapping your child in your car, you are breaking the law and therefore going against the will/wishes/laws of the much revered ruler - is that what you are suggesting, we should ignore Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani - last time I checked that was at best sedition at worst treason.
So, perhaps you should lay your cards on the table and say you are against the supreme ruler here?
"If being self righteous is wanting children to be protected from deluded stupid parents, then call me so - I will happily wear that badge with pride"
Does that mean if I think you are being a bad parent I have rights to want to "protect" your children? No. Because parents are best to decide for their OWN children.
And lay your cards on the table jjj75. YOu call me names because you do not like Arabs or Arab culture. You look down at Qatar but you need it for the better life. THAT is hypocrisy. LOL.
2012 - just give it up, we all know you are a misogynist, please just lay your cards on the table so we can all see them.
If being self righteous is wanting children to be protected from deluded stupid parents, then call me so - I will happily wear that badge with pride
Dottie--I do and judge as I please, just as you obviously feel you can do and condemn me for my views. Hypocrite. You must be good friends with the self-righteous jjj75. And when would I ever wear shorts? LOL. jjj75--self-righteous is someone who comes to another culture to profit and then critiques that culture all day long with a tone of superiority. Do as you choose with your children let others do as they choose with theirs. Yours is not the right way just because you say so. You blind to think that.
I agree with a poster before.....if they don't care about their children why the hell should we? Personally I couldn't give a damn if parents are letting their feral mobile airbags free in the the car!
Oh sorry, just checked your profile 2012 Olympics and I see that you're a man. So of course it's ok for YOU to show a knee or shoulder or whatever, but heaven forbid a WOMAN should do that. Now who's the hypocrite?
2012 Olympics - are you for real?? How dare you assume that because I may wear different clothes from you (which you consider indecent), that I am corrupting my children? Is the human body something to be ashamed of? Why would baring a knee or shoulder corrupt anyone? I just don't get it - do your children NEVER see your body or are you covered at all times? Now THAT'S just plain weird.....Talk about causing all sorts of neuroses.
I was shocked to see children driving in cars without a safey harness or seatbelt in sight. Comments like 'its no body's business but the parents' and like those made by 2012 does not reflect the innovation and forward thinking attitude of Qatar that is presented internationally. Children have a right to be kept safe at all times and parents owe that to them. What's needed are the statistics from HMC of the number of children injured in RTAs, the type of injuries and the number of deaths of young children on Qatar roads, a law to protect children in cars, parents charged with manslaughter for the deaths of children in a car without safety harness and some shocking advertising might just do it.
im mixep up.. in my opinion safety and dress code cant be cook together..i wonder what my tribes men in papua new guinea got to say about this..
2012 - i am self righteous now? Any other wild accusations (which you always fail to back up as you also failed to do on this occasion too?), always good for a laugh....
See two posts of mine earlier. Again your posts reveal how you are unable to read others. I suppose the self-righteous only here the sounds of their own voices.
2012 - explain how I am a hypocrite - again your posts are full of holes
jjj75--Yes, I am sure you do. It gives you company.
"...the females of my family do not dress like prostitutes in malls. It is my choice"( my emphasis)
Does Doha have a social welfare development body here? Or an organization that protects the childrens/women safety? It's not just the parents business, as a concerned citizen i do mind the safety of childrens.
2012 but you go around condemning women for their choice of attire??? love that hypocrisy in action
jjj75--I can compare whatever I want. One endangers the mind, the other the soul. Who are you to say what is a fair things for comparison? Oh I almost forgot, we've already established the answer to that--one of the self-righteous hyprocrites who judges those were are not like her or do not think like her.Again, I use safety devices and the females of my family do not dress like prostitutes in malls. It is my choice. I do not go around condeming others for the ways they raise kids. You should try it.
2012 - you cannot compare the 2 things. someone who has a skirt that is too short or someone wearing shorts will not result in serious injury or even death. AND yes people do get approached in malls and told not to wear these things, perhaps not enough to suit you but I have seen it.
I think not strapping your children in a car is a little more serious than someone who is not wearing the appropriate clothing.
I love the self-righteous. When they interfere in the decisions of parents they claim it is only for the bestest interet of the children. Oh but how would they respond if we interfere with their parenting. LOL at the hypocrites. Perhaps I should go to the Landmark tomorrow and point out all the women violating decency laws with their dress and poluting the minds of children. Oh but that would be shamed on QL. LOL.And yes, I always use safety devices for my children when traveling. I believe it is best so I insist on it for my children when either I drive or my driver. But this is my choice.
this issue has been raised. And I do believe that all those irresponsible parents (who drive while their child or children are unprotected) knew at all the risk. But what can you do if that's all their brain can understand?Unless they put a police force that is serious to perform their job, then all our comments are NOTHING!
Girl....that's black humour in motion!
Fat - nope, I suspect they believe it with all their heart.
on the lighter side, I was behind someone's car and there seemed to be photos all over the back of the car saying mind this car, Sammy (not the name on the car, I want to protect the parents identity) is on board, be careful how you drive because of sammy, be a responsible driver we have a prescious load etc
AND yet they let Sammy climb all over the car from the back to the front!
Its really baffling the kind of notions people have, that I certainly hope they must have really not meant what they posted!
Or Fatimah would you leave a child (anyone's child) in a burning building - of course you run in to save them if you could and not thing, it is none of my business and it is gods will
Exactly. And to say ""It is no one's business but the parents." is to assume these kids are actually" property" belonging to the parents which no one, not even those in authority, has a right to protect or save! Would a person think the same if they were to see a parent murdering their child? Scary attitudes! For all its worth is it not illegal in Qatar to drive with kids in the front seats?
"It is no one's business but the parents."Not at allThe law is there to protect the weak from the powerful, hence:The Law should protect children from the stupidity of some parents
It sure was. Now I wonder why people can't figure that out and use it while they at it..seriously!
Is it not God's will that seat belts were invented?
jjj75 it would be the parent's fault if I were obeying the law and God's will. I would be sad for the event but I would not shoulder blame.
2012 - this is everyone's concern. How would you feel if you hit a car at say 40kmph, which is fairly slow and usually not enough to cause any serious injury but enough to deploy the airbags and to cause a child to be thrown against the windscreen, causing seriour harm or even death. You may not have been legally in the wrong, assuming it was the other cars negligence which caused the accdient but knowing that you were instrumental in injuring or even causing a child to die, i certainly would never forgive myself.
Its normal here..... I think police should do something about it.
if they are least bothered about their own, why should others be bothered about them...
It is no one's business but the parents.
Same sentiment i had, when i saw a 2 year old- something kid standing in front seat playing while mom is driving :( .... How irresponsible other parents could be :(
I agree with Fathimah, other parents are over confident to think that they drive safely enough to avoid accidents.. But i hope they'll realize that others are not!
hats off for your statement :)
I'm guessing as long as the practice continues or QL continues...whichever comes first!
How many times is this topic going to be repeated ?
Because they are so foolish/over confident as to think "it won't happen to us"! That or they just don't value or love their children. It always irks me no end to see this terrifying practice. Like I've met some women who say their kids won't stay in the car seat unless they sit with them. And since its so "important to their marriage and love for their husbands" that they accompany them in front they just keep the child with them *shudders* Honestly where is their sense? Children don't belong to us..they are entrusted and a trial upon us. Making sure they are brought up well and remain unharmed is our responsibility and far more important than your spouse driving alone up front...sheeeeesh!