JEDDAH: Volunteers have been handing out 3,000 meals on the streets of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to motorists every day since the start of Ramadan as part of a campaign to prevent them from rushing home and causing traffic accidents at iftar.

The campaign entitled “Your Iftar on Us” is now in its fifth year and is supported by Panorama FM Radio and National Commercial Bank. More than 900 young volunteers have been distributing the meals, including to poor people, and will continue to do so throughout Ramadan.

Basma Jawhree, the director of NCB’s social responsibility program, said there are many accidents in Ramadan when traffic congestion increases and people tend to become anxious and lose concentration.

Jawhree said the aim is also to develop a culture of volunteering to gain reward in the holy month. The results of the previous campaigns were successful, with volunteers able to educate motorists on obeying the law. There would be 90,000 meals distributed during Ramadan.

She said Panorama FM is presenting religious programs throughout the holy month, with correspondents working directly from the field, from six to seven every evening.

Ziad Hamzeh, director general of the radio and technical office of MBC, said that the goal of Panorama FM is to create awareness of traffic rules to avoid accidents, especially at iftar. Director of Asir Traffic Col. Abdullah bin Howeiz said traffic accidents increases before Iftar during the holy month because many people are in a hurry.