Analysis of Accident Patterns in Lebanon

An estimated 1.2 million people worldwide are estimated to be killed and 50 million injured in road traffic accidents each year. Statistics reveal that every 3 minutes a child is killed on the world’s roads, and more than 80% of road deaths occur in low and middle income countries. According to some estimates, it is expected that, in the year 2020:  road deaths will increase by 80%;  road traffic deaths and injuries will rise by 65%;  road traffic deaths and injuries will see a reduction of 28% in high income countries, compared to an increase of road traffic deaths and injuries in low and middle income countries due to escalating motorization. There is a growing international recognition of this major public health challenge, and perhaps nowhere more so than in Lebanon, a developing country in the Mediterranean region. This article looks at the land transport sector in Lebanon, and briefly discusses its negative consequences. It then looks at the road traffic accident situation in this country and proposes measures to alleviate it. Choueiri, Choueiri, and Choueiri 1