Police seize car of motorist for driving in reverse on main street

AMMAN — The Public Security Department (PSD) on Sunday seized the car of a motorist filmed driving his vehicle backwards on one of the most crowded streets of the capital, according to an official source.

The video, filmed from another car, shows a black Mercedes driven in reverse on a main street in the Mahatta area, near Al Masalekh traffic lights, with many other vehicles driving on the street, the department said.

In the 2:50 minute video, the motorist drives the vehicle “recklessly” as described by the department, adding that before the video was circulated on social media outlets, the driver had been detained by officials.

If convicted of reckless driving, the motorist could face between one and two months of jail term, or will have to pay a fine of between JD100 and JD200, according to the Traffic Law.

PSD Spokesperson Lt. Col. Amer Sartawi said the car had broken down in the middle of the street and the police patrol in the area had allowed the driver to drive backwards to a maintenance shop.

“Since the vehicle didn’t move in any other direction, the motorist was asked by police officers to drive backwards and to park on the side of the street,” Sartawi said.

“But he used the excuse to drive in reverse for more than 600 metres, in violation of traffic regulations,” the official told The Jordan Times over the phone.

He added that the department impounded the car for 14 days in Suwaqa, south of the capital, and the driver is currently in custody.

The video of the incident on YouTube received more than 11,262 views on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRdgAkkaVTg.

There were around 163 deaths recorded in the first quarter of the current year caused by more than 400 road accidents, according to the Central Traffic Department.

The department’s director, Col. Yaser Harahsheh, had previously told The Jordan Times that most of the road accidents registered in the Kingdom are caused by “human mistakes”, including not abiding by the lanes and traffic regulations.