Good, but not enough

The Central Traffic Department has just announced that it will be targeting drivers who change lanes abruptly, a move it deems to help reduce the number of road accidents.

The department also said it will install even more cameras to monitor drivers, especially in the capital, Amman, where the situation on the roads is dire. 

There are bout 1.4 million cars in the country; of these, 8 per cent are involved in road accidents, and traffic accidents are on the increase.

While it is true that swerving lanes unannounced is a major reason for car accidents, and many fellow Amman drivers have no problem doing so without using lights, the traffic department should also recognise that most streets in the country are simply “laneless”. The paint that normally delineates lanes is often gone, but even if it is not, most drivers feel they “own” the roads and are not bound to obey by the rules.

As such, the move — if successful, and one has doubts, seeing that monitoring cannot be done physically everywhere by traffic officers and many streets lack cameras — is welcome if it manages to instil some discipline in drivers.

But in parallel, there should be constant campaigns that introduce safe driving habits in the country.

By and large, drivers have no reservations about violating rules — talking on cell phones and even texting while driving has become common sight on our streets — or are seldom courteous to fellow motorists. 

They are often impatient and in order to gain a minute or two they are prepared to risk their lives and the lives of others by behaving recklessly.

Talk about making driving safer has been heard for decades, with no noticeable results. That means that whatever is done to promote safe driving and prevent road accidents is not sufficient.

Streets are crammed with cars and traffic jams only get worse, and the city — because Amman is probably worst hit by the problem, due to the number of inhabitants — cannot enlarge its streets to cope with the ever-growing number of vehicles.

Relying on cameras to keep tab on violators may help, but it is not enough.

Traffic police and monitoring devices cannot be everywhere every time. There is need for self-policing if traffic conditions in the country can really improve. 

And that onus falls on the citizens’ shoulders.