'Below average number of road accidents recorded during snowstorm'

AMMAN — The traffic department's measures to ensure driving safety helped Jordanian motorists handle rain, and snow and record "lower than average" numbers of road accidents this week, Central Traffic Department Director Col. Yaser Harahsheh said Tuesday.

“The traffic was normal [during the storm]. There were no roads blocked, except for roads in some governorates in the south today [Tuesday],” he said. 

Eight accidents were recorded in Amman between Monday and early Tuesday, with four injuries, which the official said was "below average", while 40 cars were impounded by the traffic department for skidding in several areas around the Kingdom.

“Everything is under control. The measures taken by the department and the municipality have caused fewer accidents to occur and brought order to the streets,” he said. 

Harahsheh added that the department “will take a serious action against those who go out without a purpose and endanger other people’s lives". 

The official told The Jordan Times that overpasses in the capital will be closed after midnight to avoid accidents, and the department will start creating detours on bridges and icy roads at 4pm.

He urged motorists to abide by traffic rules, stay in their lanes and keep a safe distance of at least 10m between vehicles so that they would be able to control their driving.

Harahsheh noted that 90 per cent of Jordanians are either not prepared to drive in this weather, or own a car that is not equipped to work in such conditions.

He said residents can decide accordingly whether they should go out or not, adding that if leaving their houses becomes necessary, they should be "cautious" and "responsible" while driving.