Here's How You Can Stay Safe on the Roads during Ramadan

Apart from that, during the Ramadan season in some organizations, the HSE departments i.e. the Health, Safety, & Environment departments have designed special programs for training the drivers that are fasting during Ramadan in order to help them manage sleep along with daily exercises and managing their weight.

Such programs also focus on covering aspects such as the ideal diet for iftar and suhoor, along with the importance of keeping cool during the summer season, using safe routes, and avoiding any road rage and rush hours during the Ramadan season.

This driving training for Ramadan and summer season begins way before the Ramadan starts. The drivers that are not fasting are also covered in this training so that they maintain caution and can also learn to expect the unexpected from the drivers on the roads.

With a good combination of both fasting as well as non-fasting drivers, there is a distribution of workload in such a manner than the difficult trips and the long hauls are not assigned to the drivers that are fasting.

It would be a good practice to fit a GPS tracking system in all vehicles that will be monitored by a team that would be on it 24/7 to look out for any route deviation, speeding, harsh braking, unauthorized stops, and sudden acceleration. The drivers are given a stop work card that allows them to refuse any trip if they feel any kind of fatigue or if they are done with the duty hours prescribed to them.

There are certain thumb rules to follow that are briefly stated in this thread that will help you in staying safe on the road along with 4 ways by which you can ensure maximum road safety.

Thumb Rules to Follow For Road Safety

• If you are not feeling too well or you are tired, it is best to stop at a location that is safe and rest there till you start to feel better.
• Avoid driving during the time close to Fatoor time because the roads might have heavy traffic because the people might be rushing to go back home for iftar.
• Maintain caution when you are driving near Ramadan bazaars or mosques.
• Make sure to be polite on the road because it is possible that the other drives may drive more aggressively.
• Make sure your vehicle’s air conditioning system is working well and if possible avoid working under direct sunlight.
• Take as much rest as possible in a cool place.
• Avoid speeding.
• Avoid unnecessary chores or journeys.

4 Ways by Which You Can Stay Safe on the Road

Naturally, you may face times especially later on during the month or during extremely hot weather, when your energy levels can be affected due to abstaining from liquids or food during daylight. In turn, this can further impact your cognitive function, and in particular your level of concentration. This means that if you have plans to drive anywhere during the Ramadan month, you need to be well aware of the effect that your body and mind have due to fasting. Follow the below-mentioned steps to stay safe on the road during this season regardless of whether you are fasting or not.

1. Listen To What Your Body Is Saying

As this holy month passes, you can find yourself in situations wherein your body’s energy levels start to drop earlier during the day. In case of driving, if you are covering long routes or you are in heavy traffic in the mid, it can be pretty tiring, especially if you have had quite a long day at work.

If you are in the midst of planning a long trip then it makes sense to split the driving duties with a partner so that both of you can manage to get some rest for at least some part of the journey. If your body is trying to tell you that energy levels are dropping then you should try and avoid driving especially until sunset till you have had some drink or food.

2. Concentration Levels

If you are a driver than is fasting during Ramadan, you might find your concentration ability to fluctuate from one day to another, especially if the weather is hot, when your ability to focus for a long period can be impacted due to dehydration.

To drive in a safe and effective manner you must be able to concentrate on your surroundings, especially when it comes to driving across the major highways. If you think you are in a situation wherein your focus is being impacted, then you can always make alternative arrangements or ask your friend to drive for you.

3. Busier Roads during Evening

As your routine may face a drastic change during this Holy month, you should also expect the road conditions to be quite different than in the evening or late in the night. It is possible for you to encounter more than usual traffic just before it is iftar time as this is the time when most people rush back home in order to break their fast. Therefore, you should be prepared for a driving environment that is more challenging after dark. Make sure to leave early enough in order to allow sufficient time to reach your destination calmly while practicing the utmost patience on the road.

4. If You’re a Non-Fasting Driver

It definitely does sound tempting to assume that the conditions on the roads including the volume of traffic and how people are driving during the Ramadan season are going to be the same just as any other day of the year. You should bear in mind the above mentioned and also remember than the conditions on the road tend to change as compared and it is important to maintain patience and understanding when you are out on the roads.

The Bottom Line

Ramadan season is a deeply spiritual and extremely joyous time of the year for millions of people out there. By understanding the limitations and by looking after yourself by understanding your focus or concentration ability for longer hours, you should be able to drive pretty safely during this exceptional time of the year. And don’t forget to opt for a car insurance policy only after thorough car insurance compare Dubai!