Keep this in mind while you drive around this holy month

It is of utmost importance to know how the Ramadan lifestyle can affect our own behaviour, as well as the behaviour of other traffic participants.” Thomas Edelmann, managing director, RoadSafetyUAE

dubai — A survey has found that accidents are common in the morning rush hour between 9am and 10am during the holy month of Ramadan.

In an effort to better understand the road behaviour during Ramadan, a joint survey by RoadSafetyUAE, QIC Insured and Gargash Insurance Brokers, analysed the 1,845 accidents that happened during Ramadan last year.

The survey also threw light on nationalities who were more prone to cause accidents. Of the accidents that took place, Indians were involved in 39 per cent of the accidents, followed by Pakistanis with15 per cent, Emiratis with 11 per cent, Egyptians with seven per cent and Jordanians with four per cent.

The greatest number of accidents were found to have taken place on Wednesdays (3.9 per cent), followed by Saturdays (3.8 per cent), Thursdays (3.7 per cent) and Fridays (3.4 per cent). The safest day was found to be Sunday, accounting for 2.7 per cent of claims.

Thomas Edelmann, managing director of RoadSafetyUAE, said: “It is of utmost importance to know how the Ramadan lifestyle can affect our own behaviour, as well as the behaviour of other traffic participants,”

The Ramadan specific lifestyle effects the body, especially when coinciding with the hot summer season like this year. Fasting can result in dehydration and low blood sugar, which in turn can limit our attentiveness, concentration, vision and reaction. In addition to fasting, the unusual eating and sleeping patterns can cause fatigue, exhaustion, impatience and distraction.

Frederik Bisbjerg, QIC insured executive vice-president, MENA retail, said that the statistics suggest that drivers above the age of 40 must take extra caution, that people should mind the morning rush hours, and “need to pay extra attention towards their driving attitude.”