Ramadan Driving Guide - 5 Tips on how to Survive Ramadan Roads!
1,554 views · Published 27 May 2017 · 6:14 · Indexed 12 November 2026
Channel: MotoringMiddleEast · 2017 · Autos & Vehicles
A desperate dash to sustenance is not the right road; if you want to eat to live, first you must live to eat Here we go. Ramadan is here and if you’re smart, you know what that means in our region – stay off the roads in the hour leading up to Iftar. Traffic light jumping, reckless driving, speeding down the hard shoulder we see it all. Normally mild-mannered drivers turn demonic when the hunger pangs set in. Fury Road is Sheikh Zayed Road 20 minutes before Iftar! And it’s not just around breaking fast time, driving can be perilous throughout the day this month as a lack of sleep and lack of caffeine means there are a lot of zombie drivers out there. The best thing would be to stay off the road altogether, but that’s easier said than done. So instead here are some Ramadan driving tips. 1. Calm down! Oh year. Deep breaths now. Take it easy, whether you’re fasting or not, accept that driving is going to be more dangerous and you’ll have to temper your speed and approach to your normal routine. Allow more time for journeys, drive slower and lock bad old ‘Road Rage’ in the deepest darkest dungeon and, you know what, just leave it there even after the holy month of Ramadan. 2. Be Extra Vigilante For those fasting, their sleeping patterns are all over the place and they’re probably not getting enough. The fact is that proper sleep and rest has been proven necessary for attentiveness and concentration, as much as a good and properly balanced diet. Keep in mind then that those fasting are going without food, and more crucially, anything to drink, for over 15 hours. And it’s hot – temperatures hitting high 40 degrees centigrade in some cases. It’s pretty clear then that people are tired, hungry, sleepy, very likely dehydrated and not focussing or concentrating on what they are doing. And that could be just as true for pedestrians as for drivers. Go into full defensive driving mode, be extra careful, ignore the radio, put the phone away, focus on everything around you, expect the unexpected, assume everyone else who is driving (or even walking around) is an idiot and just accept it. Don’t get riled up, don’t get angry – be the most gracious and forgiving driver in the history of road use. Slow down, leave yourself an extra margin of error, take no chances, obey traffic rules and regulations stringently, and give way whenever and wherever you can safely. 3. Recognise your limits If you’re fasting and find yourself having trouble staying awake, if you’re feeling groggy and have double vision, then you really need to ask yourself if you should be driving at all. The answer may well be ‘no’. If you have even a feeling that you might be too tired to drive, then you probably are, so don’t – you pose a mortal risk to yourself and others. A split-second lapse in concentration on the road can result in calamity and tragedy. Don’t let this be a Ramadan you remember for all the wrong reasons. It’s meant to be a time of joy, peace and celebration. Remember your loved ones. You have a responsibility to be safe and keep others safe. 4. Avoid all unnecessary journeys completely Don’t drive if you don’t have to. Even after Iftar and in the evening. Remember your body clock is adversely affected, your diet is also potentially messed up. Heavy food – which is what we tend to gorge on after fasting – is not conducive to an alert mind either (as studies have shown). You still may not be operating physically and mentally at 100%. Try taking the bus, the metro, using taxis or uber, maybe even walking or just order stuff in. 5. Be honest with yourself Actually all of the above boils down to this. You may be a best driver on the planet – no doubt you probably are – but if your body is not operating at optimum, your faculties are compromised and you need to be honest with yourself about that. That’s where it all starts. Do that, and common sense will take care of the rest. Ramadan Mubarak to you all! Have a safe and serene one. Full version: http://www.motoringme.com/features/ramadan-driving-tips/ Please LIKE, SHARE & SUBSCRIBE! More on http://www.MotoringME.com Follow us http://www.facebook.com/MotoringMiddleEast http://www.instagram.com/motoringmiddleeast/ Follow @ShahzadSheikh: http://www.instagram.com/shahzadsheikh/ Snapchat & Twitter @shahzad_sheikh
