Driving in Jordan

Hello,

I already posted 2 threads here to organize my honeymoon in Jordan, and got lots of useful answers, so here's one more:
I want to hire a car in the North (airport, Amman or Dead Sea resort) and drop it in the south (Aqaba or airport). So far the best deal I found was with Hertz, cheaper than Europcar for this particular demand.
-I understood my European driving license (with photograph) will be enough for a short stay, is it correct?
-What is your experience with policemen stopping you on the road? Do they speak English (or French or German or Russian or Spanish) ? Do they ever try to take bribes? Are they cause of any trouble?
-What should I do if I get stopped for speeding or for a minor infraction? Pay immediately to the policeman?
-Do people drive safely in Amman and Aqaba ? Would you compare their driving to Paris, Istanbul, a German city, a Japanese city, Dubai ?
-Are signs on the road with transcriptions in latin letters everywhere?
-Should I bring a GPS device, or are indications clear enough? I regretted I didn't have a GPS when I drove in the Emirates.
-Is there a long wait going in and out of Aqaba special zone?

Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't call the dead sea or Amman "Northern Jordan".

I've use there an Israeli drivers license and that was fine, so I don't know about European ones.

The Police in Jordan is usually very helpful and kind. They can be very annoying when you need a document from them such as for insurance purposes (we had a bag stolen in Akaba). They mostly speak some english, but not everyone. They might stop you and search you and your vehicle.

Jordanians have reasonable driving habits. Akaba is just fine. I've never been to Amman but I've heard the traffic is pretty jammed over there. The main roads of Jordan are nice and new and not crowded at all.

There are enough signs on the main roads. If your not sure than pull over and ask (In English or learn a few basic words in Arabic). Altogether the road system there is North-South oriented with East-West oriented roads connecting the main roads (which come together in Akaba).

I wouldn't bring a GPS if your not hiking there.

There is a queue for Akaba, but it's directed at locals.

have a great time there.

Edited by: chatul

We hired a rental for a fortnight in Amman and motored down the old - King's Highway through to Petra, Wadi Rum and back again on the Desert Highway to Jerash. Apart from Amman, which is a bit hectic as can be expected, it was all very pleasant. Got lost on a few occasions but the locals were extremely helpful. Didn't spot a copper on the road the entire time we were there.

Thanks a lot for the responses. Actually I am not worried (I hired a car in Dubai to go around the Emirates and Oman without even thinking there was anything to worry about), but I'm not going alone so I have to address the concern of my fiancée.
You mentioned that Amman is very jammed. Is it very difficult to park there? If it may take 30 minutes to find a parking spot, maybe it makes sense to park out of the center and spend 1 JOD on a taxi or bus ride to the center?
If I have a rental car I will probably have to do the queue at the entrance of Aqaba, or can I just get in the tourist line and show my passport there?
If they stop random cars to search them I guess it's good, makes things more difficult for terrorists. And if they're polite when doing so, it can't be nearly as annoying as an airport security check.

I hired a car for ten days in Jordan, and outside Amman it's really relaxed driving, and the times I was stopped by the police it was more out of curiosity than anything else. I wasn't even checked when I got to the Aqaba-region. So don't worry, just enjoy !

If you are driving a hired car in Jordan you need to have an international driving licence. You can get this from RAC if you are from UK.
http://www.rac.co.uk/know-how/going-on-a-journey/driving-abroad/countries-needed.cgi
Most police small amount of English even if only to say welcome to Jordan after they have stopped you. I have been stopped but not charged.

Forget about international driving license - it's myth.
Any national license from Europe will be OK.
I have rented cars in many countries where international license is "must" - never had it, and never had problem renting car.

Lot of police posts in Jordan. But mostly stops locals for check. Will say you "welcome!" and let go. There are regular military force check points. These guys might check passports and ask some questions, then say "welcome!" and also let go... :)

I did not overspeed more then 10 km/h so had no problems with fines. There are signs sometimes "speed control" with following police post. But mostly speed is controlled by annoying speed bumps - lot of them everywhere!!! Visible and unvisible, signed and unsigned, marked and unmarked. There is at least 80% possibility that passing even lonely house alongside tarmack main road you will meet speed control bump.

Driving is easy even in Amman. Average speed is much lower then in Europe cities, so everyone will break to stop at last moment. Traffic accidents are rare.

But Jordanian driving habits are little different... :)
Turning lights are almost unused.
Horn is used instead to inform everyone about manouvres.
Road lanes are for tourists.
Overpassing on right side on highway... It's OK to drive left lane.
Lights are for really dark night.
Bold driver has right to go first...

Sounds awful? But as said - average speed is about 20 km/h in Amman downtown. So it's OK to drive even with these rules.