(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The Lebanese Internal Security Forces say there have been over 100 people killed in car accidents during the months of August and September, according to a report published Wednesday.
55 people were killed in car accidents during the month of August, while 45 people were killed in September, bringing the death toll to 355 so far this year, according to the Internal Security Forces.
The high death statistics indicate that very little to no progress has been accomplished in the implementation of a new traffic law.
Lebanon’s Shura Council made way for the implementation of long-awaited legislation last July, which was supposed to reduce road safety violations by imposing progressive fines and stricter punishments for violators.
The law stipulates the formation of a National Committee for Road Safety headed by the interior minister and a National Council for Road Safety led by the prime minister.
It also calls for the formation of a road unit within the ISF that would work on improving enforcement of the law.
Under the new system, each driver begins with 12 points which disappear with each violation. Upon the loss of all points, a driver’s license is suspended for six months.
The most severe offenses, which incur a prison sentence of one month to two years and fines from LL1 million to LL3 million, include exceeding the speed limit by 60 km/hour, driving without a license, and driving with a blood alcohol level of more than one gram per liter of blood.
Under the previous rules, speeding tickets were set at LL50,000, and those caught driving without a license only had to pay a small fine.