from Singapore

I know there are terrible things going on in the Middle East and there is so much to say on that subject but I am in Singapore at the moment and wanted to write about the traffic.

I noticed that one never sees traffic police on the roads here,everyone abides by the laws because the punishments are so harsh. Also road layout and design helps to keep a good flow of traffic even if it maybe slow at times.

If you are caught using your mobile whilst driving your licence is taken away. All the roads are clearly marked with left and right arrows for lane turnings. There are also large yellow stripes in the middle of cross roads so that if the traffic piles up in front you are not allowed to stop in the yellow area so that it keeps the middle of the roads clear. Not like the end of Mecca Street going down to Wadi Saqra where everyone has to go and to hell with people coming the other way if it is blocked! Pedestrians are also controlled with barriers on the roads with crossing points every so often. We could certainly learn a lesson from Singapore as far as controlling traffic is concerned, and it would save the police in Jordan a lot of money as they have to have so many traffic police officers. It is up to the Government and Parliament to introduce some strong laws and the Municipalities to design their roads in a better way. T