Dubai: It’s that time of the year again, when roads in Dubai and Sharjah feel like a breeze.
Summer months may not be ideal to stay in the UAE, but it is the best time to drive as roads get a much needed breathing space due to vacation in schools.
With all schools closing down for the summer vacation in July and August, most expat families head back home and even many Emirati families head for cooler climes in different parts of the world, which means fewer cars on the city’s roads and a good time to drive for those who stay back.
Absent from the daily rush in Dubai during the summer months are more than 6,500 school buses transporting around 150,000 students daily, in addition to thousands of cars of the residents who take the summer break, reducing the peak hour trip times drastically.
Traffic maps these days show more of green than red as opposed to other time of the year, when roads are mostly clogged during the morning and evening peak hours.
A trip between Dubai’s Al Quoz and Sharjah’s Al Nahda during peak hours usually takes more than 90 minutes but the advent of summer has brought it down to less than 60 minutes.
“Though the harsh summer makes it difficult to work here in July and August but the only plus of staying back during summer are the open roads. As most people are away the traffic is lighter even during peak hours and coming to work or reaching home becomes a pleasure,” said Mohammad Abbas, a resident of Sharjah who drives daily to Al Quoz in Dubai for work.
In the morning, many motorists have the luxury of an extra 15 to 30 minutes before they set off.
“During the other months, it is usually a race to beat the traffic and the mornings are hectic as I get up and get ready in a hurry. Now, both my wife and I are more relaxed as we prepare to go for work as the traffic build up starts late and we don’t have to prepare the kids for school as well,” said Mohan Prasad, another Sharjah residents who works in Dubai.
For many, absence of school buses from the roads is a big plus.
“The biggest problem we face in our area during early morning is the endless number of school buses who block all the entries and exits in the area, we usually have to wait around 15 to 20 minutes for the internal roads to clear or start before the buses start entering the area, but right now as the schools are closed it feels like I am living in a totally different area,” said Syed Abrar, a resident of Abu Shagara in Sharjah.
Even in the evening, the traffic build up begins late and the duration of the peak hours also shrinks during the summer.
“Usually most of us are in a race to hit the highway before 5pm, because after that the roads get clogged within minutes and remains congested even after 9pm. But now, we don’t have to worry even if we hold back for an extra hour, because the build starts late and the traffic gets better before 8pm,” said Grace Ignacious, with a smile on her face.
While that smile may not last long, motorists who are enjoying their time on the road are happy to live in the now.
