Written by Najib Haiby
In the difficult times we live in, where all sorts of problems weigh us down on a daily basis, road traffic safety remains a huge concern for us citizens, and one always has to wonder: Will I safely reach my destination or will I become the victim of someone’s driving adventures?
Lebanese roads, whether international or internal, are in a miserable condition. The negligence and nonchalance of the people in power have lead to a large number of road traffic victims. In 2013 alone, there were 560 deaths and almost 4500 injuries.
These terrifying numbers, which have been on the rise, have forced officials and NGOs such as YASA and Kunhadi to take immediate action in order to prevent further deaths on our roads. All of the efforts have lead to the introduction of a new traffic law (No. 243) by the Parliament on 25/10/2012.
The new law has been published in the Official Journal of the Lebanese Republic in its 45th issue and states, in Article 418, that “all texts in violation of this law or that do not comply with its content, especially law No. 67/76 – which dates back to 26/12/1967 – and its amendments, will be revoked.”
Yes, our dear citizen; the old traffic law, that was first introduced two years prior to Man’s first step on the moon, is now gone; it no longer regulates our current traffic following the creation of the new law.
The modern law includes 420 Articles that discuss, in details, rules relating to general road conduct, private and public transport, mechanical inspection, vehicle registration, driving licenses and driving schools. It also contains other fundamental rules such as the importation and exportation of used cars and motorcycles. Fortunately, it received wide acclaim from head of state and all government officials.
Now is the right time to implement the new law, especially since other laws are being legislated by the Parliament as we write this article, and any further delays will in fact favor those who benefit from the old law.
Unfortunately, on 27/02/2013, the Cabinet of Ministers issued Resolution No. 437 whereby public administrations and public institutions are ordered to act in compliance with the old law until the completion of the necessary amendments to the new law.
The aforementioned NGOs emphasized the illegality of that Resolution by launching an appeal that states the following: Firstly, the Resolution violates the constitution, especially the principle of separation of powers. Secondly, the decision is flawed in that it allows the application of a law that has been phased out by a new one.
With these facts, we have sounded the alarms in fear of re-adoption of the illegitimate and defective old traffic law. It’s only matter of time before more innocent people get hurt.