Amman launches anti-traffic jam campaign

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), in cooperation with the Traffic Department and Zain Jordan, launched a campaign on Tuesday to reduce traffic jams in the capital and ensure driver and pedestrian safety.

The “You are responsible” campaign, supported by Total, entails raising awareness among both drivers and pedestrians on how their behaviour can help prevent traffic jams and accidents, according to Abdul Halim Kilani, head of GAM’s committee.

“The aim behind this campaign is to reduce the rate of car accidents, traffic jams and deaths caused by car accidents,” Kilani said during a press conference held at GAM on Tuesday.

“We expect that a great number of visitors will come to the Kingdom this [summer] season, so we have to prepare for it by regulating traffic as much as possible,” Traffic Department Director Adnan Fraih said.

He indicated that although traffic infrastructure in Amman is adequate, the number of vehicles has increased, which poses a challenge.

“There are 1.1 million vehicles registered in the capital and around 200,000 cars go through the capital daily. Also, around 800,000 to 900,000 vehicles are expected to either travel through Jordan or stay in the country for a while this year,” the Traffic Department director said.

He stressed that better behaviour by both drivers and pedestrians would contribute to reducing traffic jams and accidents.

For example, he said, taxi passengers can avoid causing traffic jams by allowing drivers to drop them off a short distance from their destinations.

Fraih also noted that 55 per cent of nighttime traffic jams are caused by aimless joyriding.

The department director said that the Traffic Department would continue to hold awareness campaigns in the future to address these issues, and would distribute brochures about traffic laws and regulations in the Kingdom to visitors.

“The Traffic Department will also launch campaigns targeting public transport drivers to make sure that they respect visitors and provide them with the best services,” he added.