Jordan sees drop in road fatalities

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate (PSD) said in a statement it noted a decline in road fatalities in 2024 compared to previous years—a sign of progress.

It noted that Pedestrian-related accidents topped the list of traffic deaths, accounting for 42.4 percent of total fatalities, with 230 people losing their lives.

During a Public Security Radio broadcast, Lt. Col. Eng. Shadi Haddad, head of the Traffic Investigation Division, said many deadly accidents stem from avoidable behaviors such as jaywalking, crossing erratically, being distracted by mobile phones, or drivers failing to yield at pedestrian crossings.

He also warned of the recurring danger posed by people crossing the paths of Rapid Bus Transit (BRT) lanes, where buses operate at high frequency—up to one bus per minute in some areas—making unauthorized crossings extremely hazardous.

While pedestrians sometimes bear part of the blame, Haddad stressed that this does not absolve drivers of their responsibility to remain alert, especially in populated areas such as towns, villages, and highways passing through residential zones.