ABU DHABI // Ahead of Ramadan, motorists are urged to buckle up, stick to the speed limits, maintain a safe distance and drive defensively.
“‘Do not rush; it puts you, your family and others at risk’ should be the main driving goal of every driver and road user during each journey, especially during the holy month,” said Dino Kalivas, the International Road Federation’s chairman of driver education and training.
“If all drivers respect the fact that they face the same challenges, by obeying the rules, everyone helps each other and we save on driving time.”
This year, Abu Dhabi Police are launching the Your Safety campaign throughout Ramadan to reduce the factors that can lead to traffic accidents, raise traffic safety awareness and help road users.
“As Ramadan is a significant event for the community, drivers should ensure that they obey and respect road rules, drive with greater patience and where possible, not be forced into rushing or taking unnecessary risks,” Mr Kalivas said.
As well as avoiding speeding before Maghrib prayers, the police are asking drivers not to park randomly in front of mosques during prayer times, refrain from blocking exits and parking entrances and not to impede the movement of vehicles.
Some drivers tend to drive recklessly during Ramadan, especially before iftar, said Dr Salaheddine Bendak, an associate professor at the University of Sharjah. “They make up excuses such as ‘we’re fasting’, ‘we’re in a hurry to have iftar with our families’,” he said. “This leads to accidents in Ramadan, which is in contrast with Islamic teachings that state that preserving the soul is the No 1 priority for every Muslim.”
People need to drive with care and consider other motorists. Pedestrians should also take extra care when crossing the road as driving may be more erratic than usual before iftar, said Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE. “They should not take any chances,” he said. “Establish eye contact with the driver and cross the road only when they are certain the driver will stop for them.”
A set of safety guidelines has been drawn up by the Emirates Driving Institute.
“Those who are not fasting should also be aware of the effect of fasting on drivers around them, and be gracious if they see someone is driving badly,” said P M Abdul Razak, the assistant manager of the institute’s instructor training centre.
He said that people who are fasting should get enough sleep and encouraged tired drivers to pull over if they become drowsy or to use alternative transport.
Evenings full of social obligations followed by just a few hours of sleep, combined with irregular meal times, can affect the ability to remain alert and focused while driving, Mr Abdul Razak said. “The main physical impact on the cognitive side is the change of routine regarding the disruption of sleep. Drivers can experience greater fatigue, which can impair their ability to assess risk and slow reaction times.”
Ramadan is likely to begin on June 18.
rruiz@thenational.ae
