afaq news
The Lower House on Wednesday approved draft amendments to the Traffic Law for 2023 as referred by the parliamentary legal committee.
The amendments are intended to keep pace with technological advances in terms of vehicle types, specifications and road safety equipment. The amendments aim to reduce road accidents through stricter penalties for offences that directly or indirectly cause loss of life and endanger road users, including public transport lanes, and public and private property.
The amendments include the establishment of a Higher Council for Road Safety, which will be tasked with adopting and implementing the national road safety strategy. The council will also coordinate the efforts of all relevant traffic and transport safety authorities, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
The amended law introduces stricter penalties and fines for offences such as running red lights, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving a vehicle without a valid licence or for unauthorised use, driving public vehicles without the appropriate licence, speeding and using mobile phones while driving, among others.
In his address to the House, Interior Minister Mazen Faraya revealed that last year alone, a total of 169,000 road accidents were recorded, resulting in 562 deaths and 17,096 injuries.
Sharing the data for the current year, the minister said that from January and through July 27, 383 deaths and 6,331 injuries were reported due to road accidents.
Authorities recorded tens of thousands of offences last year, including running red lights, driving in the wrong direction and reckless driving, he added.
Faraya also revealed that a total of 250,000 vehicles in circulation have registrations that have been expired for more than three years, raising concerns about roadworthiness and public safety, and emphasised that the proposed amendments are a response to the increase in the number of road accidents, deaths and injuries.
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