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Tribune News Network
Doha
With the Holy Month of Ramadan just round the corner, the government has offered some sage advice to motorists as well as shoppers.
While the Hamad Trauma Center (HTC) of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has advised motorists to take extra care when driving, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has offered tips to citizens and residents to"shop smarter and plan better".
Every year, HTC admits up to 900 patients with severe road traffic injuries, with the number of severely injured patients rising during Ramadan, HMC said in a statement.
Therefore, HTC has asked drivers and passengers to mandatorily wear a seatbelt and"always listen to weather forecasts and advice on driving conditions" on the local radio or TV. Always comply with the speed limit and maintain distance between vehicles so you can brake safely, the centre has said.
HTC has asked motorists to avoid distractions such as mobile phones, earphones or stereo."If you are a pedestrian or a cyclist, use bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and sidewalks. Walk in the direction facing the traffic flow so you can see oncoming vehicles," it said.
"It is important that we build on the momentum from the successful efforts of recent years to make roads in Qatar safer for all during Ramadan," said Dr Hassan al Thani, head of the trauma division at HMC.
"We advise road users to exercise extra patience and restraint during Ramadan as people may be rushing to break their fast. They may be prone to impaired driving as they are distracted, tired or sleepy," Dr Hassan said.
Qatar's household spending on consumer goods and food peaks during Ramadan, accounting for 30 percent of the total expenditure. On regular days, the average household expenditure does not exceed 15 percent.
In this context, MEC has offered some smart shopping tips. These include planning purchases in advance, allocating a monthly budget for food commodities, drawing up a list of necessary family purchases and complying with it.
MEC has advised against shopping prior to iftar since hunger makes consumers buy unnecessary products.
MEC has offered tips on how to manage household budget using credit cards and making the most of shopping in small malls. It has urged citizens and residents to check newspapers and advertisements for the latest promotions and subsidised goods.
