Lebanon has had a traffic law in place for decades. The first comprehensive legislation, Law No. 76, dates back to 1967, and it remained in force until 2012, when Law No. 243 was enacted and later amended. But the problem today is not the existence of a traffic law. The real issue is that the law is rarely, if ever, applied with seriousness or consistency.
This lack of enforcement is one of the leading causes of Lebanon’s rising traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Every year, the numbers quietly climb, and the reasons are well known: widespread disregard for traffic rules, weak enforcement by the Internal Security Forces, and, perhaps most critically, the routine interference of politicians, influential individuals, and wealthy connections to erase fines and violations.
Failing to enforce traffic laws is not a minor administrative issue; it is a form of negligence that costs lives. When a society grows accustomed to ignoring the rules, especially rules designed to protect public safety, it moves toward disorder. Chaos on the roads eventually spills over into mentality, behavior, and governance. Lebanon, unfortunately, is no exception.
Driving in Lebanon often feels like being on a racetrack. There’s even a common joke: “If you want to learn how to drive, try driving in Lebanon.” But behind the humor lies a dangerous truth.
Mobile phone use is rampant. Estimates suggest that more than 70% of drivers use their phones while driving, a key cause of accidents and daily traffic congestion on major roads, particularly around Beirut and other major cities. Truck drivers and motorcyclists commit violations so frequently that, if the law were applied as written, many would immediately lose their licenses or face significant penalties.
And yet, a simple shift, strict enforcement without exceptions, would have an immediate impact. Traffic accidents would drop. Road behavior would gradually normalize. People would learn to respect the rules when they realize that violations have real consequences.
The law alone is not enough. Citizens must respect it, and authorities must apply it without favoritism or political pressure. No society can be considered modern or stable if its people dismiss the law as optional or negotiable.
Around the world, countries that treat procedural laws seriously, traffic laws included, enjoy safer roads and more disciplined public behavior. Those who do not end up trapped in a cycle of disorder, mistrust, and preventable tragedies.
Lebanon has the law. What it lacks is the will to enforce it.