Ramadan has physical effects on the body especially when it coincides with the hot and humid summer season. As fasting can result in dehydration and low blood sugar, which in turn can limit attentiveness, concentration, vision and reaction. In addition to fasting, the differing eating and sleeping patterns can cause fatigue, exhaustion, impatience and distraction. Making road rage a common sight in the UAE, as tempers flare and motorists exceed the speed limits as they make their way home.
According to a recent report, Wednesday is the one day of the week when the most number of traffic accidents are likely to occur. “The most dangerous weekdays are Wednesdays and least dangerous are Sundays,” stated the Ramadan Claims and Accidents Analysis Report, which was carried out by RoadSafetyUAE, QIC Insured and Gargash Insurance Brokers. With Wednesdays seeing 3.9% of claims and Sundays with 2.7% of claims.
Mustafa Oliyath Vazayil, Managing Director, Gargash Insurance Brokers says that “Motorists must realise, that even if they arrive late for a Ramadan event, people will understand. Good time management is crucial and motorists are urged to leave early enough and allow for a time buffer to reach their destination on time. We need to display a caring attitude for ourselves and for others in this very special period”.
The report also found that accidents were most likely to occur between 9 and 10am on any given day of the week, with 16.1% of claims seen during this time.
Frederik Bisbjerg, QIC Insured Executive Vice President, MENA Retail said, “Based on this survey, we want to flag these three main findings; motorists that are 40 years old or above must take extra caution on the roads, people have to mind the morning rush-hours, and that male motorists need to pay extra attention towards their driving attitude.”
The report found that 39% of the accidents/claims were filed by Indians with Pakistanis following in at 15%, RoadSafetyUAE, QIC Insured and Gargash Insurance Brokers said in a joint statement. The analysis was based on 1,845 reported accidents/claims during Ramadan 2016.
The report also found 11% of the accidents/claims were made by Emiratis, 7% by Egyptians and 4% by Jordanians.
31% of the motorists who were involved in accidents during the holy month of fasting were over 40 years, followed by drivers in the 30-to-35 age bracket. And 82% of claims were made by male drivers, compared to just 18% by female drivers.