Road Safety News

Kunhadi celebrates its 7th anniversary with Lions Club and Bankers Assurance

On the occasion of Kunhadi’s anniversary, a press conference was held on Wednesday October 30, 2013 at 6.30 pm at Jdeide – Bauchriye El Sad municipality.
?The event was held in the presence of a number of political and social figures, including:
His Excellency Sami Gemayel, represented by Mr. Bruno Zaher,
Armed forces head General Jean Kahwaji represented by Colonel Souheil Najm,
Director General of the Internal Security Forces represented by Colonel Elie Hawila – Chief of the Traffic Management Center for Greater Beirut,
Mr. Elias Youssef El Azzi – President of Traffic Experts Union
Traffic Experts Union Secretary General Mr. Andre Hazim,
President of Jdeide – Bauchreiye El Sad Municipality Mr. Antoine Jbara,
President of Maknouniye Municipality, Dean Fouad Aoun.

After the Lebanese National Anthem, Kunhadi dedicated a song to all parents who have lost a child on the road.

Kunhadi Vice President Mrs. Lena Gebrane gave a brief speech to stress on Kunhadi’s persistence and continuous effort to achieve its objectives in order to halt traffic injuries and fatalities.

Kunhadi President Mr. Fady Gebrane explained the evolution of road safety conditions in Lebanon through a comparison of the yearly car crash statistics since 2008 until 2011, displaying a reduction of crash numbers on account of Kunhadi’s awareness and abidance by traffic law. However, starting 2012, crash statistics recommenced an alarming increase.

Mr. Gebrane reminded the attendees of Kunhadi’s six main objectives, which the organization have been aiming at improving since its establishment in 2006 to introduce a new culture of responsible and safe driving. These objectives serve as vaccines against car crashes:

1-    Respect the speed limits
2-    Avoid Drink-driving
3-    Buckle the seatbelt
4-    Avoid fatigue driving
5-    Stop using the mobile while driving
6-    Wear the helmet (for cyclists)

Mr. Gebrane proceeded to citing the organization’s achievements during 2013:

-    Road safety conferences in over 150 school for over 1140 student
-    Road safety conferences in over 9 schools in the Lebanese South, in collaboration with the UNIFIL
-    Taxi Night 11, which was attended by Haifa Wehbe and a number of figures who joined this event to set an example for the youth and encourage them to ride in taxi cars instead of drinking and driving.
-    Over 2 road safety campaigns: Mobile Campaign with Alfa Telecom, Decade of Action with F3 Champion Noel Jammal, etc.
-    Distribution of over 10,000 fluorescent jackets to drivers to keep them at all times in their gloves compartment and wear them should they need to step down at night
-    Installation of safe crossings in front of schools, as a part of Kunhadi’s plan to cover all schools in Lebanon
-    Launch of the Decade of Action 2013 campaign in Lebanon in collaboration with Spanish – Lebanese F3 Champion Noel Jammal
-    Collaboration with Holcim s.a.l. to raise road safety awareness
-    Being the first NGO in Lebanon to receive the ISO 9001/2008 certificate

Kunhadi’s planned projects for 2014:
-    Collaboration with international and local institutions to raise road safety awareness: e.g. UNIFIL, Holcim s.a.l., Alfa Telecommunication
-    Continuation of the installation of safe crossings in front of Lebanese schools
-    Administration of a variety of road safety activities to raise road safety awareness in collaboration with Lions Clubs International - District 351 - Lebanon - Jordan – Iraq
-    Launch of Fly with Kunhadi in collaboration with Bankers Assurance

Bankers Assurance Claim Department Manager, Mr. Fouad Saber, confirmed that the highest rate of traffic crashes occur with younger drivers and were so even prior to the use of mobiles and other forms of distractions while driving.  These rates are now aggravated with the increase of use of mobile behind the wheel and speeding.
With the goal of improving road safety in Lebanon, Bankers Assurance joined hands with Kunhadi to launch Fly with Kunhadi, which awards 18 – 27 year olds, whose cars are covered by Bankers Assurance, the chance to win a trip to Europe, provided they spend one year “crash-free”.

Lions Clubs International - District 351 - Lebanon - Jordan – Iraq Governer Mr. Wajih Akkari emphasized the importance of the collaboration with Kunhadi in the aim of directing a number of road safety projects in the upcoming year, of which he cited:
-    Building a pedestrian bridge in Kesserwan area
-    Establishing a Traffic Victims Support Center
-    Participating in the Traffic Victims Remembrance Day
-    Road Safety Conferences

Kunhadi President Mr. Fady Gebrane and Lions Clubs International - District 351 - Lebanon - Jordan – Iraq Governer Mr. Wajih Akkari then signed the MOU between the two parties.

The celebration was concluded with a cocktail reception.