AMMAN – Eng. Shadi Al-Rawabdeh, Director of Traffic Operations at the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), has addressed the recent public debate regarding traffic violations for eating or drinking while driving. He confirmed that such infractions are not monitored or recorded by the surveillance cameras installed across the city's streets.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking on Tuesday, Al-Rawabdeh aimed to ease the growing anxiety among drivers. He clarified that the technical surveillance features required to automate the detection of such behaviors are currently not activated within the automated monitoring systems.
Specific Regulations
Al-Rawabdeh explained that the Traffic Law does prohibit eating and drinking while driving, but specifically for certain categories of drivers. These include:
Public transport drivers (Taxis/Service).
Bus drivers.
Kindergarten and school bus drivers.
This prohibition is due to the direct responsibility these drivers hold toward the safety of passengers and children.
Enforcement Mechanism
The Director emphasized that enforcement in these specific cases is carried out exclusively by traffic officers in the field through direct observation, rather than cameras. This manual process minimizes the margin of error, as officers assess whether the behavior significantly distracts the driver or impairs their control over the vehicle.
Al-Rawabdeh categorically denied rumors circulating about camera-based detection for these violations, reiterating that GAM has not enabled any such features.
A Call for Safety
Despite the clarification, Al-Rawabdeh urged all drivers to avoid distractions while behind the wheel to reduce traffic accident rates. He stressed that full concentration remains the fundamental pillar for protecting lives and property on the roads.
