U.S.-funded Road Safety Awareness Campaign Aims to Keep Lebanon's Roads Safe

November 6, 2009

Last year, there were more than 850 deaths and over 11,000 injuries from motor vehicle accidents on Lebanon's roads.   With $75,000 of support from the United States government, the Lebanese NGO "KunHadi" launched a new campaign on November 5 aimed at educating the public about safe driving and ultimately reducing the rate of preventable traffic accidents in Lebanon. 

The “Spreading Road Safety Culture” project will feature a campaign of 32 television advertisements educating Lebanon's drivers on driving basics, such as how to recognize and follow the directions of posted road signs and lane markers.  KunHadi will also design and display billboards and flyers emphasizing the dangers of drinking and driving, the consequences of driving excessive speed and the importance of using seatbelts.  In partnership with the Red Cross, special computer software will be deployed to track accident statistics to help provide the government with accurate information on the magnitude of the current problem.

This project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is implemented as part of the $9 million Transparency and Accountability Grants program, and the Strengthening the Independence of the Judiciary and Citizen Access to Justice program.  During the launch event, USAID/Lebanon Mission Director Denise Herbol applauded the role of the Interior Ministry, under Minister Ziyad Baroud, for its support to strengthen Lebanese driving laws, including mandating the use of seat belts.  She also emphasized the importance of this project on Lebanese citizens’ safety and praised the role of KunHadi organization in broadening citizen awareness of driver safety issues and Lebanese driving law.