Emirates Driving Institute shares safe driving tips for Ramadan

Emirates Driving Institute shares safe driving tips for Ramadan

June 5th 2016, DUBAI, UAE: The Holy month of Ramadan is a month with endless blessings and it is the time for everyone to purify self and exchanging good will.

Though Ramadan can offer a number of health benefits, we know that fasting has physiological and psychological effects. Fasting can cause temporary low blood sugar which will drastically affect the attentiveness, concentration, vision and action/ reaction. Especially this Ramadan in peak time of summer can lead easily to dehydration and fatigue.

Lesser hours of sleep, irregular meal times and evenings with full of prayers/ social gatherings/events will affect our driving ability to be alert and focused. 

These facts are putting more stress on our body and causing fatigue and diminish the ability to perform the driving task. Once fatigue sets in while driving; only a little you can do about it except STOP the vehicle at a safe place, far from the road, as soon as possible

To ensure a safe driving, safety of our passengers and other road users around during Ramadan, we need to be aware of our own fatigue as well as other drivers' around.

Emirates Driving Institute shares the following tips :

Plan a scheduled well- sleeping time, consistent meals time and regular exercise routine
If you feel sleepy before driving, take a nap for not more than 15 minutes
Buckle up yourself and insist all your passengers to wear at all times
If you feel sleepy while driving, pull over immediately and take a short nap
After the nap, get out of the car and walk about to help improve your blood circulation
Always maintain sufficient safe distance with the vehicle in front
Always adjust your speed to the road and weather conditions
Be more courteous and patient with other road users
Give yourself plenty of extra time to arrive at your destination on time
If you are fasting and not sure to reach your destination on Iftar time, better secure the breakfast meal  with you and have it after stopping the car in a safe place rather, rushing
Avoid driving for long hours.
Avoid driving after heavy meal especially, after breaking fast
If at all possible, avoid the roads from around one hour before sunset. At this time, people will often be driving at high speeds to make it home in time to break the fast. All usual driving rules tend to go out the window at this point.
If someone looks like he is in a ‘road rage' and shouting at you, no matter how difficult it is, let it go, and keep calm.
Expect the unexpected at all times!

The best time to drive during the Ramadan is, just after the Iftar time as the roads will be free of traffic
Be aware of your own fatigue, as well as your physical and mental condition, to ensure your safety, the safety of your passengers and the others'
Drive defensively. Observe all traffic signs, rules and regulations. Most importantly, watch out for the other drivers on the road. Use your defensive driving techniques to avoid dangerous situations and so, you can always anticipate other drivers' actions
If you are tired, use taxis, buses or even join a car pool

Good and kind deeds towards others, good habits on the roads during the month of Ramadan should become permanent habits for the future.