RTA Distributes Free Child Car Seats for Eid Al Etihad Newborns

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) celebrated the 53rd Eid Al Etihad by providing free child car seats to mothers at Dubai hospitals who gave birth between December 1 and 5, 2024. As part of its annual “My Baby’s Gift on Eid Al Etihad” initiative, the RTA distributed approximately 450 child car seats across 24 participating hospitals.The initiative, now in its fifth year, was carried out in collaboration with key partners including UNICEF, Dubai Police, and the Dubai Health Authority, with sponsorship support from CellSave Arabia and Elvie. Hussain Al Banna, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, highlighted the campaign’s goal of raising awareness about child safety in vehicles as part of Dubai’s comprehensive Traffic Safety Strategy.
“The initiative ensures every newborn during Eid Al Etihad celebrations in Dubai hospitals receives a free child car seat. This reflects our commitment to enhancing community safety and reducing road-related injuries,” Al Banna said. He further emphasized that over the past five years, the campaign has provided more than 2,000 child car seats.Studies show that proper use of child car seats can reduce injuries and fatalities among newborns by 71% and among children aged 4–8 by 45%. Al Banna urged parents to ensure children under 10 years or shorter than 145 cm are seated in the back seat and adhere to all traffic safety rules. Violations, including failure to use appropriate child car seats for children under 4, carry a fine of AED 400.The RTA continues to prioritize community-focused safety initiatives, from protecting newborns to enhancing safety measures for all road users, ensuring Dubai’s roads are safe and inclusive for all.