GAM mulls using cameras to detect illegal parking

AMMAN — The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) is currently considering using cameras to detect illegal parking and stopping on the capital’s streets, a GAM official said Saturday.

“The new cameras, if a decision is made to install them, will be used in areas that witness traffic jams due to random parking and stopping,” Mohammad Faouri, director of joint management at GAM told The Jordan Times.

The official did not name locations where the new cameras would be installed and whether they would be fixed or mobile, as GAM has not yet finished considering the project.

He also said that GAM’s fixed cameras have contributed to reducing traffic violations by 35 per cent at locations they were installed.

“Most fines detected by these cameras are related to speeding and crossing red lights,” Faouri noted, adding that there are a total of 19 fixed radar units and cameras installed on traffic lights on the capital’s streets, in addition to many other mobile units to detect speeding.

GAM started operating 22 new cameras in March to ensure public safety and organise traffic movement on the capital’s streets.

The cameras have been set up on the Mukhaddarat traffic light on Abu Baker Siddiq Street, the Ersal traffic light located at Al Quds Intersection, the Maslakh (slaughterhouse) traffic light on Jaish Street and two at the Queen Zein Al Sharaf intersection in the Sweifieh area, according to GAM.

The fixed radars are located on Prince Hashem Street near Abdoun Circle, Al Aqsa Street near the Civil Service Bureau premises, Shaheed Street in the Ain Ghazal area, Jaish Street on the Zarqa highway, Jordan Street, Abu Nseir Street and Hijaz Street in Dabouq.