Traffic Nightmare
I wrote this first thing this morning and was planning to post it once I got to the office. Alas, the internet was down at the office, so I never was able to post it until now. Now that the day is over and I’m just getting home from being out in traffic all day, I can see that my predictions were true.
I anticipate today being the worst traffic day of the year in Jordan. People are beginning to get cabin fever, so they will start taking to the streets, whether they have a good reason or not. The roads are partially clear, but the pile-up of snow on the sides of the roads have left only about a lane-and-a-half for traffic thoroughfare. Drivers are not being smart and are taking up entire “lanes” causing traffic congestion.
Taxi and Service drivers are being especially inconsiderate today. Seemingly unaware of the already narrow lanes, they are stopping in the middle of the street to pick up or drop off fares. This causes a lot of honking and undue congestion.
The snow is slowly melting, causing a flood of water to pour into recessed areas. In most situations, the poorly designed drainage systems are covered with piles of snow, so water is pooling up. Unaware drivers are speeding along and hitting these pockets of water, which cause them to hydroplane and skid out of control.
Drivers are not being careful as they pass walking pedestrians. They speed by, splashing up muddy water on those who are on the sides of the road. How hard is it to drive a bit slower and steer clear of those who are trying to walk?
Do to the piling of snow in empty lots and on the sides of the roads, there are very few places for people to park. Thus drivers are sandwiching their cars into any available space. The roads were already narrow enough without the snow piles and extra parked cars, which have reduced back roads down to single lanes. And even main roads are suffering, as people are parking in front of businesses and blocking traffic.
Just be aware, if you absolutely must go out today, be considerate and cautious. Don’t add to the idiotic chaos that is Amman’s general driving populous.
Dave February 2nd, 2008 7:41 pm
It took me an hour to get from Rabia to Swefieh. It generally only takes 8 minutes. Bah!
kinzi February 2nd, 2008 9:06 pm
Whoa, you said it. Why was there only one lane ever opened by plow on fairly major streets? On my ride around today, I never saw one piece of machinery moving snow - I know this country has 100s of tractors that dig out dirt, where were they? They could have made a fortune.
Why does no one get it that one must remove snow, not wait for it to melt? All inner side-roads were one way only. I discovered our car acts as a pretty good snowplow, so I had fun burm-bashing home.
One good thing: the people walking around today were stunningly handsome and beautiful. It was a lovely day for people watching.
Batoul February 2nd, 2008 11:47 pm
yikes!! I can’t even begin to imagine. Jordan without snow is chaotic enough…
UmmFarouq February 3rd, 2008 9:20 am
Yesterday I saw several accidents on Madina at-Tabiyyah, within meters of one another. One of them was a rental car driven by two very perplexed looking Korean gentlemen. I felt very sorry for them as the rubberneckers drove by them, splashing them with water from the melting snow.
Jad February 3rd, 2008 9:35 am
Amman is almost Cairo now.
Tololy February 3rd, 2008 12:08 pm
It took me 40 minutes to get from home to work. It usually takes 10-15 minutes.
I kinda enjoy traffic jams because there’s always the taxi driver or the guy in a beat up old car trying to push me on to the pavement so he can take my lane. I enjoy not letting them do that, even if our cars’ side mirrors touch. Yes, I am stubborn and very Kamikaze, but hey, that’s what insurance is for.
Dave February 3rd, 2008 2:33 pm
Kinzi, in my travels, I saw two large tractors moseying around and scooping snow. But they weren’t really working in areas of high need and, in general, were causing more traffic than they were preventing.
As you implied, by the time the municipality started working on the problem, it was too little too late.
Batoul, exactly!
Tololy, I actually got very angry at one girl who caused a huge traffic jam because she tried to jump ahead in line and was in my lane (the oncoming lane) of traffic. We didn’t move for 20 minutes because once she got stuck, no one could move enough to let her back into her lane. When I passed her and realized that her selfishness and poor driving skills was the cause of my traffic problem, I got upset and started complaining and gesturing in her direction. She had the gall to stare at me with a dumb “What? What did I do wrong?” look on her face.
Tololy February 3rd, 2008 6:15 pm
Dave, I just had to post a second comment after driving home just minutes ago.
DUDE! People have gone CRAZY! It took me an hour to get home from work, and four near-death experiences:
1- Thaqafeh Street, Shmesani: old pickup truck blocking Burger King drive thru. I wanted to get in, had to maneuver for like 5 minutes and then the bastard simply drove away.
2- Burger King drive thru: once in, a Daewoo Nubira was coming at me from the EXIT of the drive thru. I had to stop as close to the side wall as possible without bumping into the silver trashcans so the retard can go OUT from the drive thru from the ENTRANCE on to Thaqafeh street.
3- Also in Shmesani, guy in Golf was coming at me from the opposite direction in a one-way street.
4- Finally, guy in really old Volkswagen wanted to cut me from my right. Note that I was ALREADY on the right lane! He was on the “parking cars” right and going stupidly fast. This was the moment my Kamikaze spirit kicked in and I thought, “thou shall not pass!.”
An American in Jordan » Blog Archive » A Problem Too Costly To Fix…And Too Costly Not To February 4th, 2008 2:57 pm
[...] my traffic prediction a few days ago, this recent The Jordan Times article comes as no surprise: Icy and slippery roads [...]