[Pic from Exoleb.com]
I saw on TV this morning the launch of a new initiative, The Roads for life initiative funded by the Talal Kassem Fund for Post Accident Care. [Website Not yet launched]
Talal Kassem is the grandson of Adnan Kassar, a prominent Lebanese businessman, who was killed when a raging driver hit him on the corniche road in front of IC. [Gino’s]
The initiative aims at raising awareness on driving safely, enhancing our rotten traffic laws and most importantly increasing chances of survival for accident victims in the crucial 60 minutes after trauma. For that purpose, the foundation will provide Advanced Trauma Life Support courses to Red Cross volunteers and ER doctors and caregivers from across Lebanon.
That is indeed a great initiative, and hopefully will lower the risk of fatalities from accidents. However, I wish that those organizations, such as Roads for life and Kunhadi, knowing that they are well funded, take their actions to the streets by forming awareness checkpoints, or collaborating with the ISF in spotting drunk people driving out of Gemmayze for example, fixing the Zekrit blind turn that killed more than 12 people since the beginning of 2011, and other minor actions that are practical and will materialize in a lower accidents rate.
Increasing awareness by spreading billboards all over the country is not what will keep Lebanese drivers from speeding. There are a zillion things that could help lower accidents which I will gladly suggest to those organizations if they are willing to do them.
Nevertheless, one cannot but salute those behind such initiatives for raising awareness and being socially responsible and doing the job our government should be doing.
You can post your suggestions on the facebook page http://www.facebook.com/RoadsForLife
Roads for Life also organized a concert last Saturday in the Zouk roman amphitheater to raise funds for the trauma life support courses. It featured L’algerino (a French rapper, one of Talal’s favorite singers) and Faudel.
It’s important to mention that the first hour following the crash is known as the Golden Hour. When doctors are trained towards maximizing the victim’s chances of survival, it can really make a difference. Hopefully, these courses will start to be given for free in hospitals all over Lebanon starting September.
I’m really glad that all these organizations are taking these initiatives. Every weekend i have to drive from Beirut to Tripoli, and if you try to drive there after sunset you’d notice that there isn’t 1 street lamp lightened after Jbeil. At some point I drive without actually seeing what’s going on in font of me because of the light of another car in the other direction blinding me. And I’m sure I’m not the only one having these problems! Maybe these organizations should look into that.
OH and btw gr8 blog! it keeps me entertained at work 😀 and keep going!
Shirine.
I feel that this process can only work when individuals violating traffic laws are forced to bear the consequences of their actions. In practical terms, fines, and other penalties, as enforced by the ‘dawleh’. I feel that this is the root cause of all. The work by the other associations is critical, but not to the extent that penalties matter. I recently saw that there is a campaign for “click it or ticket”, i.e. a seatbelt campaign. But, I ask again, who is ticketing??