National Petition for the reinforcement of the implementation of the new traffic law in Lebanon

 
     On May 1St 2014, an event was organized by a group of AUB students continuing their masters in Public health. This event consisted of a sit-in in front of the AUB main gate whereby a national petition was launched aiming at the reinforcement of the implementation of the new traffic law in Lebanon. This event was done in coordination with two Lebanese NGOs namely the YASA and Roads for Life.

     The event was started with a speech led by Mr. Ziad Akel.  In his speech Mr. Akel, the founder of YASA, stressed the fact that the new traffic law and its amendments is aimed at the regulation of the transport system in Lebanon. He added that this law was issued upon the repetitive catastrophic accidents happing every day on the Lebanese roads. Those accidents are happening as a result of the uncontrolled usage of non-potable imported used cars. He added that the new traffic law will improve the conditions for obtaining the driving license and suppress of the violations of speed. Substantionaly, this law respects the existence of mankind in Lebanon.

      Moreover, the head of the Roads for Life organization “Mrs. Zeina Kasem” talked about the appeal that was launched by Roads for Lebanon and in coordination with YASA and some other road victims. This appeal is aimed at the reinforcement of the implementation of the new traffic law in Lebanon and thus, decreasing the tragedies faced as a result of road traffic accidents.
In her speech, Ms. Mirvat Hasan ZeinEddine “a public health graduate student at AUB” stressed the importance of the new traffic law as it includes sanctions for road violations. She added that the responsibility for spreading awareness about roads safety is dueled on both the Lebanese youth and their parents.

      Another public health graduate student at AUB “Ms. Nour Nahhas” talked about the importance of this national petition as a pressure tool towards implementing the new traffic law. She added that this petition should be signed by a large number of Lebanese youth in order to reach its ultimate role.
Please find the attached petition

     This is a petition letter done by graduate students Nour Nahhas and Mirvat Hasan Zeineddine at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut advocating for the reinforcement of the implementation of the new traffic Law. Our target is the Lebanese youth because they are the main victims of car accidents. Our main goal is to exert pressure on the government in order to reinforce the implementation of the new law. This petition letter is supported by YASA (Youth Association for Social Awareness), Roads for Life, LASSA, AUBMC, AUB, Lasip and Zeina Hauch Foundation.

     Road traffic accidents (RTA) are one of the top reasons of mortality in Lebanon. More than 840 are killed and 10,500 are injured annually of which most are young aged, males, passengers, car drivers followed by pedestrians. Road violation remains the number one cause of RTA in Lebanon because of the weak traffic law reinforcement.

     We demand our Youth support to be the leading forces that will pressure the government to reinforce the law and thus ensuring compliance and abiding by the traffic rules.

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