A DIWALI VACATION IN JORDAN – AN ACCIDENT - AMMAN 19 OCTOBER 2025

From one end of the Rainbow Street, I took an Uber ride to the AutoNation car rental. I had booked a manual transmission Suzuki Alto with full coverage through Discover Cars. Even though the AutoNation staff told me that he could give me full coverage with deduction for 60 JD, I declined as the Discover Cars voucher mentioned that their full coverage would cover all liabilities in full.

The paperwork took some time because my credit card was declined for the $700 deposit. However, the staff were helpful and they reduced the deposit to $300. A short while later I was on my way to Roya Downtown Hotel. It was a bit difficult adjusting to the manual transmission after so long. But, I drove extremely cautiously till I reached near my hotel. While searching for public parking nearby I saw one in a Mall and went in there and parked.

I bought a shawarma and walked the few steps to the hotel. The hotel staff told me that I could have parked in the public parking next door, rather than pay for the expensive mall parking. He came with me to shift the car to the parking lot almost opposite the hotel. As I came down the steep exit of the car park, after paying the attendant for the parking, my foot slipped from the brake and settled on the clutch. The car started rolling uncontrollably in to a street full of weekenders and cars stuck in a traffic jam. I panicked and was sure I would run over people. Miraculously, I turned the steering and hit a car instead and stopped.

I was afraid that I would be lynched going by what normally happens back home. What happened, instead, after the accident surprised me. Policemen who were patrolling the street, shop owners and passersby, all came to me, opened the door and helped me out. Everyone, without exception, wanted to know if I was alright. I was traumatized and my legs had gone weak. They helped me stand up and brought cold water to drink and wash my face. The policeman kept asking if I am alright and said that he could summon an ambulance immediately. All this while the hotel staff was also consoling me saying that the accident is a small one and there's nothing to worry about. I called up the car rental and informed them of the accident and gave them the location. They promised to be at site soonest.

To clear the traffic, I was told by the policeman to drive the car into the car park, if I could, which I did. He told me to go and rest in the hotel till the policemen responsible for traffic accidents arrive. I was shocked that I was permitted to leave the accident site. While I was still in shock, I managed to eat a few pieces of shawarma and fries. I did that because I knew that the night would be long. By the time the summons came for me to report to the traffic police the car rental rep also arrived. The policeman took my statement, I told him that my foot had slipped from the brake pedal to the clutch and therefore, had disengaged the gear.

The other party apparently insisted on going to a hospital. I was told by the car rental rep that if he pressed charges, I would have to be present in court the next day. That would put spokes on the entire itinerary for Jordan because I was told leave for Aqaba early the next morning. They suggested that I also go to a hospital and get a medical checkup done to file a police complaint. I was not for it because they also wanted me to allege that the other party was trying to extort cash from me knowing I am an outsider.

I could only pray for the best under the circumstances to happen. Finally, it was decided to go to the police station, where I had to give a report of what had happened. I narrated and the policeman typed in Arabic. I didn't know what I actually signed, but I did it. After what felt like an eternity, the other party also came to the police station, said that he had been to a hospital and that no damage showed up on the Xray and other investigations. He was prepared to close the police case by agreeing to the insurance companies settling the damages and being reimbursed 100 JD for the hospital charges. Under the circumstances, that was the best that could be done. I paid the other party the money and walked out of the police station close to midnight. Relieved and happy that the journey could continue without any disruption.

While waiting in the police station, I cancelled all my reservations in Aqaba, Wadi Musa and Jerash and requested booking.com for charge free cancellation. After I got back to the room, I reinstated the reservations. The car rental company gave me an automatic transmission Suzuki Dzire in exchange for the damaged Alto. The damage to the Alto actually was not much, but the bumper would have to be repaired. All along, the support I received from AutoNation was incredible. They were with me all the time and did the best that was possible under the circumstances. Besides, most importantly, they helped to reinstate my itinerary. The most critical role played was by the Police. No intimidation, no shouting, no negative comments, nothing. They were sympathetic, helpful and supportive. Thanks to the Police and the car rental company officials I did not feel stressed and hopeless.

During the conversation with the car rental company, exploring all possibilities, they asked if my embassy in Amman would help. I told them it is highly unlikely because it was a weekend and that too followed by Diwali. Nevertheless, I wrote an email to the 'Contact Us' id given on the website as the telephone number went on IVRS mode. I described my distress and left my local contact number too. As expected, the silence was deathly. Anyway, all is well that ends well.