‘Truly shocking’

The recent figures given for this year’s traffic accidents so far are truly shocking.

Every day we read of horrific crashes, most of which are caused by reckless driving. I have lost count of the number of articles which say “their vehicle overturned”.

The latest photograph of a bus that overturned on the road between Irbid and Mafraq due to speeding and losing control was heart wrenching. 

We did not learn of the driver’s fate, but he was in charge of a full busload of passengers, six of whom died and 37 were injured.

It is high time that the relevant authorities get to the root of the problem: the driving schools. 

The instructors may do a good job at teaching learners how to drive a car from A to B, but seemingly they do not seem to instil in their minds what they must not do. 

Rules of the road are ignored. I have witnessed basic things such as instructors themselves not wearing a seat belt, and not telling their pupils that when they turn a corner or drive through a filter they should use their indicators so that pedestrians as well as other car drivers know where they are going.

A friend told me that she was not taught how to do a three-point turn.

Another problem is that every time Tawjihi results are out, youngsters borrow their parents’ cars and go madly tooting and whooping down the streets hanging out of the windows.

Parents should not allow them to do this, as they are only encouraging careless and dangerous driving. 

Fines are inadequate and jail sentences should be much stiffer. More cameras in streets are needed.

Until the punishment fits the crime, this awful carnage will just continue.

Traffic laws need a drastic overhaul.

Chris Larter,
Amman