Photo used dor illustrative purpose.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) called on motorists to avoid driving while feeling exhausted or sleepy, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, where the attentiveness of some motorists drops due to the change of eating and sleeping habits.

Maitha Bin Adai, CEO of Traffic and Roads Agency, RTA, said, “The Traffic and Roads Agency is acting by the Dubai Traffic Safety Strategy in collaboration with partners to educate drivers about the risks of driving while under fatigue and exhaustion.

"The noble values of the holy month need to reflect on the attitudes of individuals, such as the compliance with the traffic rules and avoiding offensive driving at the expense of other road users.”

She stated that the Traffic and Roads Agency would wish to praise the efforts of partners who were keen to deliver a host of educative messages to a large number of motorists to ensure the success of the campaign named (Enjoy Your Fasting, Remain Focused on the Road).

Awareness messages were also delivered via Iftar coupons distributed to novice drivers at the Emirates Driving Institute, Emirates Transport Institute, Dubai Driving Center, and Bin Yaber Driving Institute.

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“RTA will send awareness messages via social media channels, sites, and messaging signs to raise the public awareness about safe driving during Ramadan. The variation of sleeping and duty timings during Ramadan tends to impact the attention of fasting motorists; which is visible at the time of driving from the workplace to home where the driver’s concentration drops to the minimum.  It impacts the ability of the driver to take the proper decision at the right time. Therefore, extra caution & attention is required when driving from the workplace back to home to avoid accidents,” warned Maitha.

“Most traffic accidents that take place in Ramadan are attributed to the lack of leaving a safe distance between vehicles. Drivers are therefore encouraged to leave enough distance between vehicles. They are advised to switch on air-conditioners while driving as the hot conditions give rise to the feeling of exhaustion. The driver has to maintain an upright position while seated and keep the head raised while driving,” she noted.

"Drivers are recommended to take enough rest before sitting behind the wheel and cease driving once feeling very tired, drowsy, or yawning. Relaxing and resting for a short period may help the driver to complete the journey safely. Once drivers hear the call for Maghreb prayer while driving, they must stop to take a light Iftar, even if a glass of water and few dates, before resuming the journey,” she added.

Tips for drivers:

-Avoid driving after taking a heavy meal, especially after fasting

-Be patient when driving during Ramadan, and leave a safe distance from the vehicle to the front

-Expect congestion and make more time to reach your destination to avoid tension while driving.

- Avoid engaging in intense disputes with some motorists flouting traffic rules and keep in-lane.

-Do you know that sleeping inside a vehicle while keeping all windows closed and the A/C switched on in closed areas can cause suffocation and death within less than an hour?

-If you are the kind of person who is remarkably tense while fasting, better leave your vehicle and use public transport to reach safely to your destination.