Amman – With winter approaching, official authorities overseeing Jordan’s public transport sector are stepping up preparations by enhancing bus readiness and developing operational plans. Measures include preventive maintenance, monitoring road conditions and providing suitable alternatives in the event of road closures, helping ensure service continuity and passenger safety.
Dr. Abla Wishah, spokesperson for the Land Transport Regulatory Commission, said preparations for the winter season are based on technical inspections of public vehicles as part of the annual licensing process, alongside operational arrangements aimed at ensuring smooth passenger movement and uninterrupted service on public transport routes, particularly major routes connecting the governorates.
Wishah told Al-Ghad that technical inspections of buses are conducted by the Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department as part of the annual licensing procedures. School buses, she added, undergo technical inspections twice a year in cooperation with the licensing department to ensure their readiness and technical safety.
She said the commission has authorized its field inspectors to issue the daily permits required for buses when weather conditions or increased demand warrant them. This allows additional transport services to be provided when needed, helping reduce disruptions to citizens’ mobility and ensure smooth service on inter-governorate public transport routes.
Wishah called on bus drivers and operators to ensure that tires are in good condition and that braking, heating and windshield-wiper systems are functioning properly, describing them as essential requirements for vehicle safety and readiness during winter weather.
Amman Public Transport Preparations
Regarding public transport within the capital, the Greater Amman Municipality said, in response to Al-Ghad inquiries, that it had coordinated with the operators of Amman Bus and the Bus Rapid Transit system to verify the technical readiness of buses and continuously monitor their operational condition. The municipality is also strengthening safety measures and responses to weather conditions during winter.
The municipality said it had emphasized the need to maintain buses’ technical readiness and carry out preventive maintenance, while maintaining continuous coordination to monitor the condition of stations and bus stops and address issues related to rainwater accumulation.
Weather-response plans include monitoring traffic in coordination with relevant authorities and the Traffic Department, as well as modifying Amman Bus routes and operating schedules when necessary to ensure service continuity and passenger safety.
Regarding the notification of passengers about any changes to routes or schedules, the municipality said it relies on available official channels, including social media pages and the Amman Bus application. Passengers can also contact the operations room through the free complaints hotline, while station staff coordinate with passengers to provide guidance and explain operational changes.
These measures are particularly important in providing passengers with information about bus movements during severe weather, especially when routes or schedules need to be changed because of traffic congestion or road closures.
Operators Prepare for Winter Conditions
Alongside official preparations, public transport sector workers said winter readiness requires additional technical and operational measures beyond routine maintenance, with the aim of improving safety and reducing breakdowns that could disrupt services.
Munir Al-Shatnawi, a bus operator, said companies conduct regular maintenance on their buses throughout the year. However, preparing for winter involves comprehensive maintenance work to ensure vehicles are safe and ready to deal with various weather conditions.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Al-Shatnawi said these measures include replacing tires when necessary and checking heating systems, windshield wipers, brakes and lighting, as well as inspecting other components related to bus safety. The objective is to reduce the risk of skidding and accidents caused by adverse weather.
He added that operators continuously monitor weather developments and road conditions during winter in cooperation with the Traffic Department and the Land Transport Regulatory Commission. This allows them to respond to road closures and switch to alternative routes when necessary.
Al-Shatnawi noted that weather conditions can sometimes affect demand for public transport services, which in turn affects companies’ operating costs, particularly when passenger traffic declines during certain periods of the winter season.
Operators address these challenges by rescheduling or reducing the number of trips according to demand and operating conditions, while drawing on the experiences and challenges faced by the sector during previous seasons in cooperation with the relevant authorities to limit their impact during the upcoming season.
Bus Operators’ Union Strengthens Safety Measures
Jihad Al-Safadi, deputy head of the Jordanian Bus Owners Union, said the union is working with relevant authorities, particularly the Land Transport Regulatory Commission and the Traffic Department, to strengthen operators’ preparations for winter by focusing on buses’ technical readiness and raising awareness of safety measures.
Speaking to Al-Ghad, Al-Safadi said the union plays an awareness-raising role targeting companies and individual operators through advertising campaigns and awareness programs. It also monitors bus readiness and stresses the importance of conducting comprehensive maintenance before winter begins.
He explained that the plans include monitoring operations during severe weather through an operators’ operations room that maintains direct communication with the Traffic Department, the Land Transport Regulatory Commission and other relevant authorities. This helps track developments and take appropriate measures whenever an emergency occurs.
Al-Safadi said electronic tracking systems (GPS) help monitor bus movements, whether buses operate as part of the regular inter-governorate transport system or belong to companies equipped with such systems. Communication with individual operators also continues to ensure coordination during different weather conditions.
He noted that monitoring road conditions during severe weather is a key part of preparations, particularly when closures, skidding or landslides affect bus movements. In such cases, coordination takes place with the relevant authorities to direct vehicles toward safer alternative routes and inform citizens of necessary changes.
He added that the plans include providing reserve buses to deal with emergencies, helping minimize service disruptions, alongside coordination through the operations room and direct communication with the executive director of the Land Transport Regulatory Commission to take appropriate action based on the circumstances.
Source: Al-Ghad
