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AMMAN — Jordan witnessed 12,2970 traffic accidents resulting in 12,690 injuries, 461 fatalities and JD296 million in financial costs in 2020, according to recently published statistics by the Jordan Traffic Institute (JTI).
Traffic accidents are considered a major challenge faced by the government. The cost of traffic accidents is estimated at around JD800,000 per day (JD296 million per year).
Jordan has experienced huge human and economic losses due to traffic accidents, according to the JTI.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a positive effect on traffic-related accidents, due to the government-imposed lockdowns. The lockdowns restricted traffic movement throughout the country, causing a decrease in the overall recorded traffic accidents.
Salam Hammad, a social worker and human rights activist, urges for intensified traffic enforcement and high penalties.
Over 58 per cent of the overall traffic accidents are car crashes, totalling 4,905 accidents. Most traffic accidents occured in Amman, during July, and were majorly recorded on Thursdays, according to statistics.
Every day around 23 traffic accidents are recorded in Jordan, which take the lives of an average of 1.3 people and cause injuries to 34.8 people. The daily financial losses traffic accidents cause are estimated at around JD800,000.
Most fatalities caused by traffic accidents were recorded in the age group of 18-35.
Ninety-eight per cent of the traffic accidents are caused by human error, according to the JTI.
“Carelessness and aggressive driving behaviour, something we witness every day in the streets of Amman, is the major causes of traffic accidents,” Hammad told The Jordan Times.