The Council of Ministers, in its session held today, Sunday, headed by Prime Minister Dr. Bishr Al-Khasawneh, approved a draft law amending the Traffic Law for the year 2023.

The most prominent amendments to the draft law included defining a traffic accident as an unintended accident, while fabricated accidents are not considered traffic accidents for the purposes of the Traffic Law.

As a result of the developments in the traffic process, vehicles that do not require a license, such as children’s cars, have been added to the draft law, in addition to vehicles that are not allowed to drive on the road, such as vehicles designed for specific purposes to work inside closed places, squares, and private paths off the road, or in fields designated for them according to instructions issued for this purpose. the aim.

The amendments also included granting the authority to seize the vehicle for more than (48) hours, as the period of confiscation became from (24) hours to (30) days, according to the discretionary authority of the violation case and its types.

In the articles related to penalties, the penalties that were repeated were overstated with indifference, including the use of a hand-held mobile phone, as the value of the violation became (50) dinars instead of (15) dinars, in addition to the violation of crossing the red light, as the violation became imprisonment from one to two months. And a fine ranging from (200) to (300) dinars, and in the event of recurrence during the year, the penalty will be doubled. A fine for the driver of a public vehicle is (10) dinars if he smokes while driving, and the same amount if his companions in the vehicle are allowed to smoke.

The project dealt with driving quickly, as the fine for driving at a high speed of more than (50) km from the speed limit became imprisonment from one to (3) months and a fine of (100) dinars, with the fine being doubled if the violation was repeated during the year.

The project dealt with the issue of processions that go on the roads during the celebrations, as the violation included a fine ranging from (50) to (100) dinars, after it was (30) dinars.

Public Security personnel were also granted, under the draft law, the authority to conduct alcohol and drug tests in cases of driver arrest.

According to the draft law, the minister and the Director of Public Security have the power to suspend the license for reasons related to false documents and data, a fabricated or intentional accident as a result of gross negligence that led to death or disability, or driving under the influence of drugs, in addition to the power not to issue driving licenses due to serious violations such as driving without License and driving without a license does not entitle him.

The Higher Council for Traffic Safety was formed, which includes bodies from the Ministry of the Interior, Public Security, the Ministry of Local Administration, the Ministry of Transport, the Land Transport Regulatory Authority, the Greater Amman Municipality, and two from the private sector.

The council approves the national strategy for traffic safety and its implementation plan, and coordinates with the official and private bodies concerned with traffic safety. To unify its efforts and ensure that it fulfills its duties and responsibilities related to traffic safety, study the traffic impact, and amend legislation.

According to the draft law, the court is prohibited from taking away the personal right if the driving offenses are under the influence of drugs, alcohol, without a license, or a license that does not qualify for driving another vehicle.

Also, if the court decides to replace imprisonment with a fine, it must not be less than the specified amount or not less than the upper limit, in addition to not deviating from the minimum limit in mitigating reasons, and not incorporating financial penalties.

The draft law also facilitated procedures by using electronic means of evidence accepted in judicial procedures to prove violations.