Leaving children in vehicles is especially dangerous during the hot summer months, where temperatures across the country have been soaring to highs of 48°C.

“Leaving children unattended is a crime punishable by law, and Wadeema’s Law is tough on violators. It imposes a minimum Dh5,000 fine on the guardian who leaves the child unattended in the vehicle, and this could be accompanied by a jail sentence,” Captain Mohammed Hamad Al-Isai, director of Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate said during an interview on Emarat TV.

The UAE has reported several instances where a child was left unattended in a vehicle, resulting in their death, Al-Isai added.

The director shared an incident where a father had forgotten his baby in the car because he was engrossed in a phone call. By the time the man realized that his infant was locked in the car with no air conditioning, the baby had already died, Al-Isai said.

“I hope residents will take this incident as a warning. Whenever you head out, you must make sure to check your vehicle before locking up. In addition, no motorist or guardian should ever leave a child unattended, even for a minute, when stepping away from the vehicle. Guardians are responsible for the wellbeing and safety of children,” the director warned.