Traffic accidents fatality rate went down by 50 percent last month compared to the same period of last year, according to Central Traffic Department Director Brigadier General Adnan Freih.

Freih said in a press conference that the number of traffic accidents in 2009 was estimated at 13,000, adding that fatality rate in 2009 dropped by 8.6 percent compared with the year 2008.



"Last year 676 people died as a result of traffic accidents while 1556 people sustained serious injuries," he added.

Freih pointed out that hit incidents accounted for 40 per cent of all deaths resulting from traffic accidents in the Kingdom last year, noting that most traffic accidents occur due to human error.



Freih attributed this drop to the strategy the Traffic Department implemented last year, especially in terms of monitoring and raising awareness as well as training the department’s personnel on how to apply the law and deal with motorists.

He said traffic accidents cost the country JD250 million annually.

Source: Jordan News Agency - Petra