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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Drivers are re-familiarizing themselves to the return of traffic lights after 16 years of disrepair and non-management in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.
With the fall of the Iraqi former regime in 2003, the traffic light system fell apart. Baghdad’s traffic police are now renovating the system, but chaos and disorder still rule the hectic roads.
Drivers are learning to readjust to the new system.
“People don’t care about this issue now because there is nothing to stop them. There are no surveillance no cameras. There should be social awareness by people,” Captain Mustafa, a driver, told Rudaw.
Baghdad’s General Directorate of Traffic Police want to fine violators. However, shortages electricity for the lights and violations contribute to daily traffic jams.
“Traffic police are not here. When I go to the Kurdistan Region, I notice they respect the laws. One day I was in a hotel in Kurdistan. I looked out the window and a car was stopping at a traffic light at 6 am; it was strange to me. I thought it had stopped working. Later the light turned green and the car left,” driver Hamad Jabar said.
“The Kurdistan Region is not like Baghdad. Baghdad is somehow different. The law rules everywhere in the Kurdistan Region. But people here don’t respect the rules. God willing, it will improve,” one driver said.
Brig. Gen. Ammar Walid of the Baghdad Traffic Police said his force is undertaking all efforts to apply the rules.
“People don’t know how to deal with the system because it’s new to them. Some of the old drivers may be more willing to accept the traffic lights. For a new system, it’s normal to have some problems but we do insist on applying the new traffic system. Especially in areas which were completed by the Baghdad Municipality,” he said
There are 1.8 millions of cars in the city centre of Baghdad, according to the Traffic Police, but the streets are capable of carrying just 500,000.
With the fall of the Iraqi former regime in 2003, the traffic light system fell apart. Baghdad’s traffic police are now renovating the system, but chaos and disorder still rule the hectic roads.
Drivers are learning to readjust to the new system.
“People don’t care about this issue now because there is nothing to stop them. There are no surveillance no cameras. There should be social awareness by people,” Captain Mustafa, a driver, told Rudaw.
Baghdad’s General Directorate of Traffic Police want to fine violators. However, shortages electricity for the lights and violations contribute to daily traffic jams.
“Traffic police are not here. When I go to the Kurdistan Region, I notice they respect the laws. One day I was in a hotel in Kurdistan. I looked out the window and a car was stopping at a traffic light at 6 am; it was strange to me. I thought it had stopped working. Later the light turned green and the car left,” driver Hamad Jabar said.
“The Kurdistan Region is not like Baghdad. Baghdad is somehow different. The law rules everywhere in the Kurdistan Region. But people here don’t respect the rules. God willing, it will improve,” one driver said.
Brig. Gen. Ammar Walid of the Baghdad Traffic Police said his force is undertaking all efforts to apply the rules.
“People don’t know how to deal with the system because it’s new to them. Some of the old drivers may be more willing to accept the traffic lights. For a new system, it’s normal to have some problems but we do insist on applying the new traffic system. Especially in areas which were completed by the Baghdad Municipality,” he said
There are 1.8 millions of cars in the city centre of Baghdad, according to the Traffic Police, but the streets are capable of carrying just 500,000.
Reporting by Halkawt Aziz
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