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YASA - Youth Association For Social AwarenessYASA Headquarter2nd Floor, Akl Bldg, St. Rock Street, Hazmieh, LebanonP.O.Box : 45-083 Hazmieh, LebanonTel : + 961-5-452587Mobile : +961-3-601972Fax : + 961-5-952587Website: www.yasa.orgEmail : yasa@yasa.orgwww.facebook.com/yasalebanonTwitter : @yasalebanon

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Days and years pass while we at YASA continue our struggle towards safety promotion. We never give up on our ambition, we never feel tired, we assure our continued commitment towards improving safety around us. All we care about is your safety and to help you all prevent injuries that can be prevented and that has become to be known as unintentional injuries.

We all strongly believe in safety as being an attitude and that it is all people’s right to a safe environment. It is surely not how it was looked to during previous decades however we confirm that it is the current approach that safety is a right to individuals where ever they are. In this perspective we at YASA call on each and every individual to ask for their right to safety in all aspect.

Over the years since its establishment in 1996, YASA has played a significant role in improving safety in Lebanon where it initiated and in many of the countries it has reached to. This is the result of the dedication of the volunteers who have had the strong believe in their mission as well as the commitment of our professional team who would always go to the extreme for better safety.

Many time have we at YASA been asked about when will we get bored and give up, however on behalf of all of us I assure you that we all strive to save at least one life each day or preserve one injury each day.

Life is truly about chances however we should all do our part in seeking improved safety and then leave it to chance. Through this attitude we strongly believe that this will help us prevent those preventable injuries and deaths.

As the President of YASA Lebanon and on behalf of our professional and volunteer teams I wish you all a safe journey through our book as well a safe journey through your life. Also through your life journey you are kindly invited to visit us on www.yasa.org and see our latest.

Sincerely YoursMona Khouri AklPresident, YASA Lebanon

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Table of ContentsAcknowledgement 13List of Publications 14

Introduction 15

Section A – About YASA 23

I - Description of YASA international 251- YASA - Background 252- Sister Organisations 27

a- Scientific Research Foundation (SRF) 27 b- Lebanese Fire Prevention Committee (LFPC) 29 c- Lebanese Association for School Safety Awareness (LASSA) 30 d- Tarek Assi Foundation (TAF) 32 e- Lebanese Association for Sports Injury Prevention (LASIP) 33 f- The “Safe Building Alliance” (SBA) 34

Section b – PAPerS And rePortS PubliShed bY YASA 39

I-Road Traffic Injuries: An International Dilemma 41Introduction: 41Relevance and Objective of the Report 43Fundamentals of Road Safety 44Road Crashes are Causing Huge Losses 46World Health Organization’s Response (WHO) 49The Resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations 57/309 50The Mission of YASA International 50Gender and Road Traffic Injuries 51Social and Economic Costs 51Medical Costs 52 People Disabled 52Indirect Effects 53Conclusion 53

II- YASA Concept for Major Areas of Road Safety Improvement: The concept of 6Es 57 1-Education 612-Engineering 633-Enforcement 674-Emergency 68 5-Evaluation 706-Encouragement 74

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III - The Major Actors from public and private sectors to promote road safety 791. Legislators 822. Country Presidents 833. Regional, Provincial Governments and Local Authorities 83 4. Police or Internal Security Forces (ISF) 845. Educational Institutions 846. Ministry of Education 857. School bus drivers 868. Research 879. Media 8710. Motoring Associations 8911. The Military 89 12. Religious leaders 9013. Driver Training Schools 9014. Driver’s license examination 91 15. Driving Instructors 9216. Health Care Professionals 9217. Civil Society Organizations 9318. Business Enterprises 9319. Commercial Advertising 9420. Assessment of Safety Features in New Vehicles 9421. Vehicle Inspecting Agency 95 22. The Emergency Units 95 23. Vehicle Manufacturers and Importers 95

IV - Safety in Road Construction Zones 99Aims At Reducing Delays And Enhancing Safety In Work Zones 102 Specific Objectives and Recommendations of the Campaign 103Education 105Engineering 106Contracting and Bidding Procedures 106Specifications and Construction Materials, Methods and Practices 107Traveler and Traffic Information Related to the Project 108 ITS AND Innovative Technology 109Enforcement and Emergency 109Reducing Delays and Enhancing Safety in Work Zones 110Signing, Pavement Markings 111Summary of recommendations 114

V - Calming Streets. Proposals for pedestrian safety and attractive streets in urban areas. 119A process based on goals 121I- Recommendations for pedestrian safety 125II- Child Safety 126

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III- Children’s Difficulties in Traffic 127IV-Injuries and bicycling 129V-Measures for prevention of bicycle injuries 131

VI - The Law on seat belt use in Lebanon: A lesson of past and current experience 135 Abstract 137Introduction 139 The need to enforce seat belt use 140 Objective 140 Materials and methods 140 Recommendations 146Conclusions 147

VII - The need to have a new traffic law in Lebanon 149Introduction: 151Traffic rules and Regulations 151Current Traffic Law 153Observation of Current Traffic Situation in Lebanon 154Traffic Legislation and Road Safety: 156Draft of New Traffic Legislation: 157Urgently Needed Actions 159Conclusion 159

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AcknowledgementS

This book was prepared by Ziad Mikhael Akl (President of YASA International) and Mona Khouri Akl (President of YASA Lebanon) with the cooperation of Clovis Abi Nader (Consultant of YASA International), Sami Mouwakdie (President of YASA Europe), Joseph Daccache (President of LASSA) and Kamel Ibrahim (General Secretary of YASA Lebanon).

The second part of this book builds on compilation of seven major yasa publications during the period (2008-2011). This book and many of other research papers were published on our site www.yasa.org.

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1-Road Traffic Injuries: An International Dilemma

Prepared by Ziad Akl Published in Fall 2009 (Edition # 37 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

2-YASA Concept for Major Areas of Road Safety Improvement: The concept of 6Es

Prepared by Ziad Akl Published in Summer 2009 (Edition # 39 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

3-The Major Actors from public and private sectors to promote road safety

Prepared by Ziad Akl Published in Fall 2008 (Edition # 36 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

4- Safety in Road Construction Zones

Prepared by Ziad Akl and Clovis Abi Nader Published in Fall 2010 (Edition # 41 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

5- Calming Streets: Proposals for pedestrian safety and attractive streets in urban areas.

Prepared by Mona Akl –President YASA LebanonPublished in Summer 2010 (Edition # 43-44 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

6-The Law on seat belt use in Lebanon: A lesson of past and current experience

Prepared by Mona Akl Published in Spring 2009 (Edition # 38 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

7- The need to have a new traffic law in Lebanon

Prepared by Ziad Akl, Mona Akl and Joseph Daccache Published in Spring 2011 (Edition # 46 from Dirasat of ISF –Lebanon)

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introduction

In the decade 2001-2011, road traffic deaths collisions were the leading cause of death in the Eastern Mediterranean region of the World Health Organisation. They were the leading cause of death for the 15-29 year age group and the second for the 5-14 and 30-44 year age groups.

Globally, injuries are known to contribute from 12 to 16 % of total number of deaths. This variation is from region to another.

This region has the world’s highest overall road traffic mortality rate. The mortality rate for young men in the 15-29 year age group ranks highest in the world (34.2 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants).

Although, precise and good quality surveillance systems are not available in most countries of the Middle East and North Africa, Please find below the table about the Leading causes of death by age group as per WHO Eastern Mediterranean region1.

Rank 0-4 5-14 15-29 30-44 45-69 70+ Total

1 Perinatal causes

Lower respiratory infections

Road Traffic

Injuries

Ischemic heart

disease

Ischemic heart

disease

Ischemic heart

disease

Ischemic heart

disease

2Lower

respiratory infections

Road Traffic Injuries

War and conflict

Road Traffic

Injuries

Cerebro-vsascular disease

Cerebro-vsascular disease

Perinatal causes

Source: WHO 2008, Global Burden of Disease (2004 update)

Annually, accidents cost the region an estimated US$ 7.5 billion2; the human cost is around 146 000 lives, ahead of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and HIV AIDS, plus an additional 2.8 million non-fatal injuries.

1 - Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mo-rocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen2- Eastern Mediterranean status report on road safety. Call for action, OMS 2010

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Road traffic mortality compared to other mortality causes for the Eastern Mediterranean region (Estimation 2004)

Source: WHO 2008, Global Burden of Disease

The region’s motorisation rate is currently relatively low, although there is great disparity between countries (721 vehicles per 1000 population in Qatar compared to 20 in the West Bank and Gaza).

Road death and motorisation rates for the region, compared to the European average and the United States.

Pakistan

Qatar

USA

Afghanistan

Bahrain

Egypt

Iran

Iraq

Jordan Kuwait

Lebanon

Libya

Morocco

Oman

SaudiArabia

Sudan

Syria

Tunisia

UnitedArab Emirates

West Bank & Gaza

Yemen

EU 27

0

100

200

300

400

500

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1 000

Vehicles per 1000 inhabitants

De

ath

s p

er 1

M in

ha

bita

nts

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Source: WHO 2009, Global Status Report on Road Safety (2007 Data)

Road Traffic injuries are predictable and preventable. Road safety and injury prevention requires a systematic approach. RTIs are multifunctional and needs inter-sectoral cooperation under a leading national authority.

According to the European Transport Safety Council, Road Safety and injury prevention is a collective responsibility of all sectors and should have a common vision and goal.

The relationship between motorisation rates and road traffic deaths has been widely documented by the scientific community. Rapid motorisation in the low and middle income countries leaves them less time to prepare for the rise in road traffic injuries and to take the necessary preventive measures.

Focused and defined road safety programs in the areas of seat-belt use, pedestrian safety, speed management, emergency care, helmets and child restraints use are highly needed in most countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region.

Moreover, it appears from the “World Status Report on Road Safety” published by WHO in 2009, that:

- research on road traffic injury prevention and control is rudimentary in most countries in the region;

- data on important contributing factors were never reported or collated due to lack of collaboration.

More dedicated funds have to be allocated by national governments and local authorities for road safety interventions in the whole WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. The sources of the funding can be assured by national governments and local authorities through funds collected by traffic violations, contributions from private sector institutions, taxes on fuel...

Various experiences from high income countries have proved that road traffic injuries are not a fatality and huge reduction in the death toll can be achieved.

As YASA has mentioned in various media interventions and published

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reports, the Road traffic injury statistics in mainland France from 1953 to 2010 can assure a good example that RTIs can be significantly decreased.

According to the Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2011-2015,The key groups of driver being targeted are defined as follows:

• Young drivers: Drivers under the age of 25 years.• Medically-at-risk-drivers: Drivers whose existing medical condition

may affect the safe operation of their vehicles, their occupants and the safety of other road users would be targeted under this group (e.g.: epilepsy, ischemic heart disease etc.). This includes driver performance, related to the aging process, deemed to be outside of the boundaries of normal driving behaviour (e.g.: poor cognitive or perception skills, slow reaction time to decision-making situations, visual or auditory limitations) that may result in collisions.

• Vulnerable road users: Pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists and persons in personal mobilized devices (e.g.: motorized wheelchairs and scooters).

•Motor carriers: A person or entity who is responsible for a commercial vehicle (e.g.: driver, carrier).

• High-risk drivers: Repeat offenders with patterned illegal driving behaviours (e.g.: recurring incidences of alcohol/drug impaired driving, traffic violations, collision involvement or suspended/prohibited drivers).

• General population: Road users who benefit from strategies/interventions/regulations/legislation introduced to make roads, vehicles and road users safer.

According to the Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2011-2015,The key causes of collisions being targeted are defined as follows:

• Impaired Driving: Includes all forms of impairment, such as impairment resulting from the ingestion of a substance (alcohol, drugs (prescription, over the counter or illicit)) as well as due to actions that result in driver impairment from natural causes (fatigue or distracted behaviours).

• Speed & Aggressive Driving: Includes driving at speeds beyond posted legal limits on all road types in urban and rural settings, and driver behaviours deemed outside of socially acceptable norms that put other road users at risk of injury or contribute to crashes and casualties. It also includes driving too fast for road conditions.

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• Occupant Protection: Includes issues pertaining to proper restraint use among all road users, vehicle technology enhancements (crashworthiness and crash avoidance) and safer roads (e.g.: dangerous roadside obstacles, lighting, signage, etc.).

• Environmental Factors: Includes issues/factors that may affect the likelihood of crash occurrence (e.g.: roadway configuration, roadway construction, road surface condition, road and roadside design, weather conditions, urban and rural infrastructure, etc.).

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