'Fasting motorists should avoid driving while tired'

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has called on drivers to avoid driving while feeling exhausted or sleepy during the holy month of Ramadan as levels of concentration decrease due to the changes that affect the body because of fasting.

Maitha bin Adi, CEO of Traffic and Roads Corporation at RTA, said: “During Ramadan, we shall depend on the social networks (Facebook – Twitter) to address the public. We have designed a number of awareness guidance signs for driving vehicles in Ramadan and will publish them constantly during the holy month,” she said.

She pointed out that most of accidents take place in Ramadan due to not leaving safety sufficient distance between vehicles. Drivers should keep their back straight and head up while driving.

She added that some changes have been made to the ban on movement of trucks during Ramadan on the Itihad and Sheikh Zayed roads and the part that connects them from Sheikh Rashid Road (Zabeel Tunnel to Al Garhoud Tunnel), in addition to the City Centre in Deira and Bur Dubai from 7am instead of (6am – 10 pm) in addition to changing the ban timings in the morning in the rest of the emirate’s roads with one hour difference. So the ban will start at 7:30 and ends at 9:30 instead of the timing in the rest of the year (6:00 – 8:30).

She stressed on the truck ban during the whole year in the Al Shindagha Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, the Floating Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, the Gulf Trade Bridge in addition to the Airport Tunnel.

Maitha called on light and heavy vehicle drivers to take sufficient rest before driving and to stop their vehicles when they feel exhausted, sleepy or start yawning as relaxation and rest for a short time would help the driver continue his trip safely.

She asked drivers who hear the Maghrib Adhan (call to prayer) while driving to stop and take a light Iftar of glass of water and some dates before continuing their trip.  





 

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