Several crashes occur across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia unfortunately, killing and injuring people, as Muslims rush to reach home before iftar, ignoring the spirit and message of the holy month.
Traffic police have warned citizens and residents against speeding just before iftar, saying it endangers not only their lives but also those of other drivers and passengers.
“Speeding before iftar goes against the spirit of Ramadan, which is a month of patience,” Fuad Kawther, a Saudi engineer, said.
He advised the public to participate in public iftar parties at mosques and along streets to avoid speeding to reach home for the breakfast. “This will give us an opportunity to share the happiness of breaking the fast with our fellow Muslim brethren.”
Abdul Aziz Al-Dhakir, a Saudi columnist, urged Saudis and residents to change their wrong attitude and practices during Ramadan, including overcrowding in front of shops selling ful and tamiz before iftar.
“People fight and abuse each other while standing in front of such shops, forgetting the teachings of the Prophet, peace be upon him. This has become an annual practice and it is high time we stopped such antics,” Al-Dhakir said.
Many charitable organizations in the Kingdom have started distributing iftar meals at traffic points in order to prevent drivers from rushing to reach home for iftar. “These charities are doing a great job by deploying their volunteers at traffic points in order to distribute water bottles and dates among the fasting drivers,” said Ezzuddin Hafiz, a teacher.
A senior traffic officer, who requested anonymity, said police would take strict action against drivers who park their vehicles wrongly in front of mosques and restaurants during Ramadan, hampering smooth flow of traffic.
“Our Ramadan plan will focus on traffic just before iftar when many people go out to purchase iftar items,” the officer said.
