‘Higher death toll from traffic accidents expected this year’

AMMAN — The death toll in traffic accidents is expected to rise by around 3 per cent in 2016, compared to the previous year, the Central Traffic Department (CTD) said on Monday. 

A total of 542 people died in around 8,000 accidents during the first nine months of 2016, said CTD Director Col. Yaser Harahsheh.

There were also 1,270 critical injuries and 12,000 minor injuries in the same period, he told The Jordan Times. 

During 2015, there were 608 deaths in 9,712 accidents, as well as 2,021 critical injuries and 12,000 minor injuries, according to the CTD.

This year’s death toll is expected to be higher because of four deadly accidents, including a bus accident in Mudawara in which 19 Palestinian pilgrims were killed and another bus accident in Mafraq in which seven Egyptians died, Harahsheh said. 

Deadly accidents on the Desert Road and Al Ardah Road happen because of drivers’ mistakes, the official said, and not because the roads need fixing or expanding. 

He added that “99 per cent of the accidents are caused by human errors”.

Speed, sudden lane changes and poor handling of curves in the road are the main causes of accidents, Harahsheh noted, as well as tailgating and using phones while driving. 

Amman and Irbid witnessed the highest number of accidents, he said, adding that the number of road tragedies increases during summer because of the rise in the number of cars on the Kingdom’s roads, as tourists and expatriates visit. 

Around 15 to 20 per cent of the accidents in the summer involved non-Jordanian vehicles, since 500,000 vehicles entered the Kingdom, Harahsheh noted. 

The number of accidents involving non-Jordanian vehicles decreased since the Public Security Department (PSD), the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) and insurance companies signed an agreement two years ago.

Under the agreement, motorists must pay traffic tickets before leaving the country, Harasheh said, explaining that the regulation resulted in fewer accidents as drivers are aware that if they commit violations they will have to pay for the traffic tickets. 

GAM on Sunday launched an initiative to reduce the number of traffic accidents, in cooperation with the PSD and a number of private companies. 

“Enough… your soul is a keepsake” initiative is part of a national strategy to reduce traffic accidents in the Kingdom. 

The initiative focuses on encouraging drivers to abide by traffic signs, respect the right of way and commit to speed limits.