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AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) spends between JD200,000 and JD300,000 a year on maintaining traffic signs damaged by advertisements, a GAM official said on Saturday.
These advertisements have a negative impact on traffic, blocking the signs from view, especially at night, noted Khaled Haddadin, head of the GAM traffic operations directorate.
“These signs are made of a reflective material manufactured only in three countries: Germany, the US and Japan. If the driver manages to see the sign in the morning, it will be difficult for him to see it at night,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone.
Haddadin said some signs are defaced by passers-by.
“Sometimes, they are damaged because of traffic accidents. Also, election candidates promote their activities and events by putting up their posters on these signs,” he added.
“The normal life span of each is between seven and eight years, but we change several signs every year. Traffic signs undergo maintenance on a monthly basis,” Haddadin said.
The municipality official added that areas in east and south Amman witness the majority of violations.
Violators are required to pay the price of the sign in addition to a JD50 fine.
GAM provides free space for residents to post announcements of weddings or funerals beneath street signs.