Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08AMMAN3139
2008-11-19 12:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

Jordan Improves Road Safety Traffic Record in 2008

Tags:  SENV TSPL PGOV JO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4761
RR RUEHAST RUEHHM RUEHLN RUEHMA RUEHPB RUEHPOD RUEHTM
DE RUEHAM #3139/01 3241228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 191228Z NOV 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3852
RUEHDO/AMEMBASSY DOHA 0424
INFO RUEHZN/ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003139 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND OES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL PGOV JO
SUBJECT: Jordan Improves Road Safety Traffic Record in 2008

REF: A. STATE 119012

B. AMMAN 2154

AMMAN 00003139 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 003139

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND OES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TSPL PGOV JO
SUBJECT: Jordan Improves Road Safety Traffic Record in 2008

REF: A. STATE 119012

B. AMMAN 2154

AMMAN 00003139 001.2 OF 002



1. Summary: Although Jordan continues to have one of the highest
traffic accident rates in the world, it has witnessed a significant
gain in improving its road-traffic safety record in 2008, reducing
fatality rates by almost 40%. Several high-profile traffic
fatalities focused considerable attention on this issue from the
King and the Prime Minister. The Public Security Department has
increased its traffic monitoring and enforcement on major highways,
and several NGOs are focused on increased awareness and outreach
activities. A new 2008 traffic law provides additional penalties
for traffic violations. Numerous challenges remain and local
experts question whether the remarkable decreases in fatalities,
injuries, and accidents achieved in 2008 can be sustained. Under
the framework of the U.S.-Jordan Science and Technology agreement,
an initial DVC is planned to identify potential U.S.-Jordan
collaborations in this area. End Summary.

Rate of Road Accidents Declines in 2008
--------------


2. According to the Jordan Traffic Institute (JTI),every 10 hours
someone in Jordan is killed in a road accident, with a child killed
every 35 hours. This reality, reinforced by several high-profile
traffic fatalities, including a bus accident on January 26, 2008 on
the Amman-Jerash highway, in which 26 people were killed, focused
considerable attention on this issue from the King and the Prime
Minister. Senior GOJ intervention, including a project endorsed by
Queen Rania, has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of
fatalities, serious injuries, and accidents in 2008 compared to the
year 2007. The statistics for the February 1 - October 31 periods
for both years highlight these improvements:
-- 453 deaths in 2008 compared to 746 in 2007, a 39.27% decrease.
-- 10,441 injuries in 2008 compared to 14,387 in 2007, a 27.42%
decrease.
-- 74,971 accidents in 2008 compared to 85,303 in 2007, a 12.1%
decrease.

New Traffic Law Grants More Powers to Police
--------------


3. The controversial September 2008 traffic law grants police the
power to arrest drivers who inflict physical injuries on other
people, drive under the influence of alcohol or drive 50km (30

miles) per hour over the speed limit. The law also sets stiff
penalties for speeding, reckless driving and running red lights
while imposing up to a two-week imprisonment and a minimum JD 150
($210) fine for those who let someone without a license drive their
car. The traffic law is seen as a means to change negative
behaviors on the roads such as speeding and reckless driving which
have caused so many accidents over the years. In addition to the
law, there is an increased presence of traffic police on the roads,
especially during rush hour.

Many Organizations Converge to Improve Road-Safety
-------------- --------------


4. Essam Shahzadah from the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM)
coordinates road safety initiatives with the Hikmat NGO and other
partners. GAM has budgeted JD 3.5 million ($5 million) for traffic
safety over the last year to almost double the number of traffic
police to 2,000; install 32 closed circuit TVs and 3 radar cameras;
and establish 2 traffic control centers at GAM and at the traffic
police center. GAM has also spent roughly $200,000 on outreach
materials. Some other recent GAM initiatives include:
-- Launching a road traffic excellence center between GAM, Hikmat,
the German University, and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. Two
professors from Germany (a psychologist and a traffic engineer) have
also started training Jordanian public and private sectors members
involved in traffic safety.
-- Concluding agreements with private sector organizations such as
General Motors, Jaguar, and Toyota to build pedestrian crossings,
each at a cost of JD 25,000 ($35,000).
-- Engaging New York Institute for Technology (NYIT) Graphic Design
graduates to design posters and brochures on traffic safety that
will be printed and published at GAM expense.

NGOs Step Up Outreach
--------------


5. The Royal Health Awareness Society, under the patronage of Queen
Rania, launched a traffic awareness campaign in April 2008. The
Queen participated in a public march in May 2008 entitled KAFA, or
"enough" to focus attention on the traffic safety challenges in
Jordan. Hikmat for Road Safety is an initiative launched by a
prominent Jordanian businessman whose son died in a traffic accident
in January 2008. Hikmat is working on rehabilitation of schools and
street zones based on a listing of the most dangerous roads in
Jordan. The campaign is targeting 100 schools throughout the

AMMAN 00003139 002 OF 002


kingdom, providing safer options for the children. Several business
organizations now support Hikmat by sponsoring safety improvements
at these locations. The Hikmat founder has established an annual
scholarship for a Masters degree in road-safety for a Jordanian
student at the University of Chicago. The increased outreach might
be paying dividends: AMEN FM or "Safety" FM a radio station which
links the public to special traffic police radio frequencies, has
reported a significant increase in the number of citizens calling in
observed traffic violations.

Potential U.S. - Jordan Collaboration
--------------


6. Recognizing the importance of road safety for the economic
growth and development of Jordan, the Jordan-U.S. Joint Committee on
Science and Technology Cooperation identified road-traffic safety as
an area of collaboration (ref B). ESTH has discussed road-traffic
safety issues with the Jordan Traffic Institute (a division of the
PSD),the GAM, and the 2 leading NGOs in this arena - Hikmat and the
Royal Health Awareness Society. OES and the Embassy have proposed
an initial DVC with key Jordanian stakeholders in the traffic safety
arena to discuss potential collaboration. Several Jordanian
stakeholders also met with OES Senior Advisor for Health at the
Middle East Road Safety Partnership held in October in Doha.

Challenges Remain
--------------


7. GAM's Shahzadah noted one of the biggest challenges in Jordan
includes a lack of expertise - Jordan currently has only 4 traffic
engineers. He applauded the significant drop in road fatalities in
2008 due to the focus on this issue from the King, and cautioned
that longer term annual decreases of 7-8% are more sustainable.
Col. Emad Hajarat, JTI Director, also believes the recent spike in
road-safety gains in Jordan will flatten, in part due to weak
interagency coordination, a lack of science-based decision making in
developing traffic management policies, and the autonomy enjoyed by
local police in setting town speed limits.

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http://www.state.gov.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/

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