By Staff Reporter
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has called on motorists to avoid driving while feeling exhausted or drowsy, especially during Ramadan, when the attentiveness of some motorists drops due to the change in eating and sleeping habits.
This call is made in response to the tendency for diminished concentration of some drivers due to the physical changes from fasting during this sacred month, the authority said on Thursday.
RTA has launched an awareness campaign aimed at providing important driving tips throughout Ramadan, which is part of its annual traffic awareness activities based on Dubai’s traffic safety strategy.
A study commissioned by the German Road Safety Council published in 2020 revealed that a five-second doze-off behind the wheel is akin to driving blind for over 180 metres or more.
Awareness messages
In collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and other traffic safety stakeholders in Dubai, RTA approved numerous awareness activities for the month of Ramadan. The objective is to disseminate safety and guidance messages to the widest audience possible. These messages will be spread through various channels, including field activities and social media platforms of RTA and traffic awareness stakeholders.
RTA printed banners at the entrances of iftar tents scattered across Dubai carrying awareness messages to both pedestrians and drivers. Thousands of awareness leaflets have also been printed and included with iftar meals distributed to target groups such as Dubai taxi and public bus drivers, truck drivers, and other road users. These measures were taken in partnership with various government and private entities.
The campaign’s messages during Ramadan are designed to highlight the critical need for drivers to always maintain concentration, especially during Ramadan, due to the change in sleep and work routines affecting fasting individuals.
This is particularly evident when employees are returning from work, a time when concentration drops to a minimal level, impacting drivers’ decision-making abilities. As such, there is a need for heightened caution and vigilance while driving during Ramadan.
