(MENAFN- Jordan Times) Traffic this summer is expected to be the worst in the capital's history due to an unprecedented number of visitors to the country, according to the Traffic Department.
"Last year 700,000 vehicles entered the country and this year we expect it to jump to 900,000 because of the current situation in neighbouring countries and Jordan's stable condition," Director of Public Relations at the Traffic Department Lt. Col. Maen Khasawneh said.
The traffic official added that there are around 1,200,000 vehicles registered in the Kingdom, 80 per cent of which are in Amman.
In addition, the country witnesses an increase of around 70,000 new vehicles annually, Khasawneh told The Jordan Times.
"We have conducted a study which revealed that around 35 per cent of motorists use their vehicles for aimless joyriding," he added.
Motorists in the capital have complained of traffic jams on major roads and at all hours of the day.
On Saturday, traffic on some major roads and highways in the capital came to a standstill for over three hours.
Several motorists told The Jordan Times that the traffic jam had forced them to abandon their cars and walk.
"This was an exceptional day for the capital," Public Security Department Spokesperson Lt. Col. Mohammad Khatib said.
"We have two circuses running, graduations and weddings, some of which were at wedding halls on main roads, in addition to people just going for aimless drives, which contributed to the traffic congestion," Khatib told The Jordan Times.
"We dispatched additional traffic forces to handle the situation, but the number of vehicles was very high and we could not control the situation for a while."
Civil Defence Department (CDD) officials said their rescue operations had not been affected by the traffic jams in the capital, saying the department's drivers knew to use alternate routes and avoid congested main roads.
"Every minute is important to us and can save a life," said Captain Mohammad Harb from the awareness and media department at the CDD.
"Sometimes our officers go on foot to reach the scene of an accident if their vehicle is stuck in traffic. Our main priority is to save lives," Harb explained.
In some instances, ambulances, rescue vehicles and fire engines are sent from two different locations at the same time to make sure one at least arrives on the scene promptly, he told The Jordan Times.
Transport Services and Taxi Owners Union President Ahmad Abu Haidar cast a fatalistic eye on the traffic situation.
"It is a temporary problem that will last two or three months because of the tourist season and we have to live with it because we do not have any other option," Abu Haidar said.
Most taxi drivers complain about the traffic jams, he added, but most also know how to avoid them by taking side roads.
There are about 17,000 taxis in Jordan, of which about 12,000 are in Amman, and more than 4,250 service (shared) taxis.
In May, the Greater Amman Municipality, in cooperation with the Traffic Department and Zain Jordan, launched a campaign 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.
Khasawneh said the Traffic Department would continue to promote better behaviour by both drivers and pedestrians, such as carpooling, and urge motorists to park in designated parking areas.
"Some motorists do not realise that if they double park their vehicles or park at random, they might cause three or four hours of traffic jams," Khasawneh said.
The traffic official added that more traffic officers will be deployed on the streets to help direct traffic and enforce the rules.
"We have also increased the number of vehicles assigned to investigate traffic accidents and our police tow trucks are working around-the-clock to remove any vehicle that is involved in an accident or is blocking traffic for any other reason," said Khasawneh.
"We are also hopeful that citizens and motorists will cooperate with us so that we can get through the difficult traffic situation in the capital this summer," he added.
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