The Ramadan season is a time of both patience and generosity as Muslims dutifully observe a month of fasting and reflection.
The irony is Ramadan is also a month of merciless gridlocked traffic on our expressways and byways as hungry folks fidget in their cars dreaming of the hot “buka puasa” meal awaiting them at restaurants, hotels or at home.
Recognizing this need to maintain as stress-free a day as possible during this month, Waze, a social traffic and navigation app is offering useful tips on how to avoid unhappy delays whether to the office, bank, shopping mall or petrol station.
Office rush hour
According to Waze, there will be heavier traffic when commuters are going to work in the mornings than when they are heading home at night.
Traffic is expected to be at its worst around 8am to 11am on weekdays, and will show signs of easing up only at 3pm.
So for those up and about for breakfast and prayers at “Sahur”, it is best to start your day earlier by leaving home before 8am.
Fast food hunting
Those wanting to grab a bite at fast food restaurants should be prepared for a long wait or worse yet full house, from 4pm to 7pm as restaurants will be chockfull of people getting ready to “buka puasa” with family and friends.
If you can, eat only at 9pm and onwards when crowds have cleared. Alternatively, grabbing a bite anytime from 12am to 5am should be a breeze as the feeding frenzy is less hectic then.
Shopping at the mall
As expected, the Ramadan season is when shoppers and diners throng shopping malls looking for bargains and a warm, comforting meal.
As such, shopping centres across Malaysia are consistently crowded between 12pm-4pm and even more packed from 5pm-6pm because of those who either intend to reach home before “buka puasa” or who are planning to break fast at the nearest shopping centre.
Crowds ease off considerably by 7pm so if you need some quick retail therapy or a bite, now’s the best time to do it.
Banking on time
Traffic to banks throughout the country fluctuates throughout the day during the month of Ramadan.
In the morning, brace for the steady increase of people heading to ATMs, and once banks officially open at 9.30am, their numbers will rise rapidly.
Expect the bank to be swarming with people between 12pm and 3pm.
If you just want to make a quick ATM withdrawal, 4pm onwards is best as crowds would have dissipated considerably by then.
‘Gassing’ the time
The early bird gets the worm or in this case, an available petrol pump without having to wait for ages to fuel-up.
So remember to leave your homes before or around 8am to fill-up in peace. Any later and you’ll have to face the long queues.
Run low on petrol at your own risk between 3pm to 6pm as people flock to refuel on their way home or to dinner with their family and friends.
If you value your peace of mind, drop by from 7pm onwards when crowds begin to thin.
So there you have it – the best and worst times to bank, shop, fuel-up and fill-up your belly during Ramadan.
If you want to spend less time on the road and more time with those you love, download the Waze app now and test it out for yourself.
For more information, visit www.waze.com.