28% Of UAE Residents Still Don’t Wear Their Seatbelts, Research Says

The UAE implemented a new seatbelt law in July of 2017

Researchers have analyzed the response that the motorists have had regarding this new driving law in the UAE.

The seatbelt law was set in place to reach the UAE’s 2021 Vision of safer roads in the country and while the law has been implemented already – almost 28% still don’t wear their seatbelts while driving by reducing fatalities to 3.0 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The RoadSafetyUAE conducted a research to see the impact that the seatbelt law has had amongst UAE residents, adding that seatbelts have a 40 to 80% of saving a person’s life depending on the type of impact.

Surprisingly, research has shown that only 82% of those questioned knew about the new seatbelt law and 71% were between the age groups of 18 to 24 years old.

Here’s a breakdown of their findings

• Prior to the new seatbelt law

69% of drivers said they always use the seatbelt

• After the new seatbelt law

72% of drivers said they always use the seatbelt

That's an increase of 3% in 12 months, however, there is still an alarming number of 28% still don’t regularly use the seatbelt while driving around the UAE.

And only 27% of passengers in the back seat have admitted to using the seatbelt post the new seatbelt law – this is regarded as alarmingly low.

Reasons for not wearing the seatbelt

Motorists and passengers have also revealed the reasons behind the omission of seatbelt use:

• When I sit in the back seat, I feel safe enough not to wear a seatbelt - 51% stated this
• It is not needed to wear the seatbelt during short trips - 32% stated this
• I am a safe driver and I won’t get into an accident - 17% stated this