Lebanon’s Roads: A Deadly Path – 2,673 Accidents in Under a Year
Lebanon is grappling with a severe road safety crisis. Daily accidents, claiming hundreds of lives and injuring thousands, are becoming a grim reality. A recent study, presented by road safety expert Kamel Ibrahim during a meeting of the National Road Safety Committee, revealed a staggering 2,673 traffic accidents in less than a year, specifically up to October 2025. This data, which was reviewed by Al-Nahar, paints a troubling picture.
A Growing Crisis
The situation isn’t new; it’s a culmination of delayed solutions, a lack of enforcement of traffic laws, neglect of road safety, the cessation of mechanical inspections, and the absence of proper driving schools. These factors have collectively contributed to the surge in traffic accidents. The Ministry of Interior, which prepared the study, appears committed to finding practical solutions based on data and research, rather than relying on ineffective temporary measures.
The data shows a consistent rise in accidents year after year. From 2,299 in 2023, the number increased to 2,359 in 2024, and reached 2,673 by October 2025. The number of injuries also rose, from 2,654 to 3,089, while the number of fatalities decreased by a mere nine, a negligible percentage compared to the rise in injuries.
September 2025 saw an unprecedented number of accidents, reaching 325. This month also witnessed a 25% increase in fatalities and a 35% increase in injuries compared to previous years. There was a notable increase in fatalities among motorcycle users, rising from 22% to 30%, while injuries increased from 27% to 37%, with a third of the injured being non-Lebanese. Statistics show that around a third of the fatalities were pedestrians, and the age group under 29 accounted for 38% of the deaths and 45% of the injuries.
High-Risk Areas
The areas with the highest accident rates include:
- Baalbek: Highest fatality rate (9.40%).
- Beirut: Highest injury rate (14.58%).
- Metn: Highest fatality rate among motorcycle users (11.82%).
- Keserwan and Metn: Highest pedestrian fatality rate (9.93%) and highest nighttime fatality rate (11.53% and 9.89%).
Proposed Solutions
During the National Road Safety Committee meeting on October 28, several solutions were proposed to address this crisis. These include improving databases to identify accident causes and enhancing the capabilities of security forces. The committee also emphasized the importance of enforcing traffic laws through increased patrols, the use of speed radars, and combating driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, particularly at night in Beirut, Keserwan, and Metn.
At the municipal level, the committee stressed the role of municipalities in recording all accidents, even minor ones, to provide an accurate database. They also highlighted the need for measures to slow down traffic within municipal boundaries, raising public awareness of road dangers, and enforcing the law within their jurisdiction to alleviate the burden on security forces.
At the ministerial level, the committee emphasized cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works to study the most dangerous roads and take appropriate safety measures. This includes increasing the number of pedestrian bridges, removing deadly cement blocks at exits and dividers, and closing dangerous openings on highways to reduce injuries.
Global Standards and the Lebanese Reality
In 2023, the World Health Organization reported that approximately two million people die annually worldwide due to road accidents. Road injuries are also the leading cause of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29, with 92% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The United Nations General Assembly has set ambitious goals to halve the number of deaths and injuries from road accidents by 2030. Developed countries have begun taking initiatives through development projects to improve their road standards.
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