Lebanon is a country that styles itself as a glamorous playground for monied Arabs but it is also a country where the state has a proud tradition of not giving a jot for the safety or security of its people. Road deaths are becoming a national plague.
By and large, young men don't become policemen in Lebanon to uphold the law or serve the community. Being a cop is a job for life with a pension that brings with it a certain status. One only has to stand at Beirut's busy Tabaris intersection and watch the police lounging on their Land Cruisers as car after car jumps the red lights. Why cause trouble?

I tried to find out how much all this bloodshed and mayhem costs the state each year by calling a friend who is a senior executive at a leading Beirut insurance house.
"There are no national figures, which is a pity because we would really like a clear picture of what's going on," he said. "Of course, we have our own numbers but they can only tell half the story."
YASA the most high-profile Lebanese non-governmental organization that promote road safety awareness is working tirelessly but they are swimming against a powerful tide of ignorance and apathy.
As usual it is left to the private sector to do the job of the state.