Motorists told to take extra care on roads over Ramadan

Motorists are being urged to give themselves more time for journeys and show extra consideration to other drivers during Ramadan.

Driving standards were likely to be affected by fatigue caused by changes to eating and sleeping patterns during the holy month, said experts.

Just before sunset was identified as one of the times when motorists needed to take most care – with many drivers rushing to make iftar appointments.

A study on the challenges of staying safe on the roads during the holy month is released this week by the Road Safety UAE portal.

“During the holy month of Ramadan, it is sad to witness hundreds of accidents and dozens of fatalities every year,” said Thomas Edelmann, managing director of the organisation.

“Ramadan is a very special time and it is all about being with the ones close to you, which creates a lot of traffic.

“The Ramadan-specific lifestyle has physical effects on our body, which can result in dehydration and low blood sugar, which in turn can then affect our attentiveness, concentration, vision and reaction.”

In addition to the effects of fasting, irregular sleep patterns and meal timings can cause fatigue, impatience and distraction, leading to accidents, said Mr Edelmann.

“Just before sunset is a problematic time to be on the roads, because motorists tend to rush towards their iftar appointments,” he said.

The study found that older motorists – aged 40 plus, particularly men – were at highest risk of being involved in an accident.

Tuesdays were the most likely day for an accident, with Sundays the least, according to the study.

The findings were based on data collated from car insurance claims from more than 6,000 accidents that took place during Ramadan.

Drivers were also advised to make sure they gave themselves extra time.

“Good time management is crucial and motorists are urged to leave early enough and allow for a time buffer to reach their destination on time,” said Mr Edelmann.

Showing extra consideration to other motorists was crucial during the holy month, said Phil Clarke, technical director of road safety and enforcement for transport consultants 4E.

“People are likely to be more fatigued if they are tired and dehydrated, so you have to compensate for that,” said Mr Clarke.

“If you drive as if everyone has their usual level of concentration, then you could come unstuck.

“You also need to drive less aggressively and assertively as you might at other times.”

Mr Clarke also advised drivers to pull over and take a break if they felt tired.