Traffic accidents in Jordan blamed on reckless driving

By Mohammad Ghazal in Amman
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-09-03

[MOHAMMAD GHAZAL] Jordanians say that aggressive drivers and risky pedestrian behaviour makes driving a hazardous experience.

For Laila Ahmad Sultan, like many in Jordan, the thought of driving is so stressful that she prefers to take taxis.

"It is like a battle. I am nervous all the time until I get home," said Sultan, a graduate of the University of Jordan.

In Jordan, where many drivers seem to ignore traffic laws, daily commutes often resemble obstacle courses, some citizens complained.

"Drivers are angry and nervous. They do not respect traffic lights, and I believe they lack courtesy. They just race," Sultan told Al-Shorfa.

The Kingdom recorded 1,000 traffic fatalities throughout Jordan in 2007 and 750 in 2008, according to the traffic department. The number dropped to 670 in 2009.

Recent safety measures have helped lower the number of fatalities.

The Hikmat Road Safety (HRS) society has been working to develop playgrounds and football fields for use after school hours revealed that most children in the country play in the streets.

Since 2008, the HRS and the Traffic Department identified 500 "black spots" across Jordan, areas with poor visibility for drivers and areas where several accidents claimed lives. To increase safety, officials placed signs, lowered the speed limit and installed speed bumps to reduce accidents.

The Traffic Department also enacted a "good driver reward" programme whereby police officers will pull over drivers at random and run a traffic history check.

Motorists who have not been in an accident could receive a cash prize. Drivers who have a record of traffic violations will receive a pamphlet and a brief lecture on proper driving habits.

Despite these measure, hundreds of injuries and accidents are registered each week. Many still believe that getting behind the wheel or crossing the street in Jordan remains risky.

Taxi driver Hassan Subhi Abu Khalil, 43, blamed traffic accidents on poor road conditions, saying that several roads across the capital are pothole-ridden.

"I once had an accident at one of the overpasses in Amman when a tire fell off after I hit a pothole. I lost control of the car and hit a pick-up truck in front of me," he said.

Another major issue, according to Khalil, is the driving.

"I see many people in the streets driving like crazy. In summer, it gets worse when people from the Gulf come to Amman on vacation and they are not used to our roads and routes," Khalil said.

He said improper driving practices and a lack of law enforcement creates a culture of confusion on the roads, where traffic regulations are ignored.

"I try to abide by traffic regulations, but to be honest, I don't most of the time because others fail to do so," he told Al-Shorfa.

HRS society founder Maher Qadourah blames Jordan's traffic fatalities on poor driving habits and pedestrian behaviour.

Careless motorists are one of the main reasons behind traffic accidents in Jordan, he said.

"Drivers do not give priority to pedestrians most of the time," said Qadourah, whose son died in a hit-and-run.

Another factor is bad infrastructure for pedestrians, specifically a lack of pedestrian bridges and sidewalks along many of the country's main thoroughfares. A lack of sidewalks is a particular concern in Amman, which forces pedestrians to walk in the streets.

But even in places where infrastructure exists, such as pedestrian bridges and tunnels, many pedestrians shun them and cross the street randomly, placing themselves in front of oncoming traffic, he said.

"The problem is with people's behaviour, whether they are drivers or pedestrians. The key to addressing bad behaviour is through enforcing the law and raising public awareness," Qadourah said.

"The government is serious about addressing the issue. Several awareness campaigns were held over the past two years," he said.

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