Traffic Department seatbelt awareness campaign hits the road

AMMAN — Traffic officers on Wednesday began distributing brochures to motorists urging them to wear seatbelts.

The Central Traffic Department (CTD) on Monday announced that it will launch a one-week campaign to raise motorists’ awareness of the importance of wearing seatbelts.

The CTD, which is affiliated with the Public Security Directorate, shared on its official social media accounts that after the one week period, “traffic officers will begin fining motorists who do not wear seatbelts”.

“The seat belt can save lives, and we will pursue violating motorists,” the CTD warned via social media. 

The CTD used different hashtags to promote the campaign, such as “use seatbelts while driving and create a safe traffic environment”.

Several people posted on the CTD’s Facebook page praising the step.

Rayan Mamonn wrote: “Thanks to the CTD for this brilliant campaign to raise motorists’ awareness.”

Mahmoud Hawari added: “We encourage the CTD to raise motorists’ awareness about the importance of wearing the seatbelt.”

Ala Alfares called on the CTD through Facebook to also monitor other “dangerous violations by motorists, such as wedding processions, sudden stops and blocking the roads”.

Last year, Jordan witnessed over 170,000 road accidents, resulting in 562 deaths, according to traffic officials.

In 2021, around 160,000 road accidents occurred on the Kingdom’s roads, resulting in 589 deaths.

During the same year, 11,241 people were injured in traffic accidents, including 737 serious injuries.

Last year, traffic officials announced that the CTD will adopt several measures to curb road accidents, including the reinforcement of the Traffic Point System that was published in the Official Gazette in early 2018.

The step, according to traffic officials, is meant to curb road accidents and minimise human and financial losses.

The new system stipulates that motorists who commit certain traffic violations will have a file at the Traffic Department that includes their driving record, the points accumulated and traffic violations. 

Motorists who accumulate less than 16 points, according to the new point system, will have the option of attending a road safety course at the Jordan Traffic Institute, which they will be required to pay for.

Once they complete the course, eight points will be deducted from their driving record, according to the regulations.