What is happening on Lebanon's roads is a major "mockery". Some scenes are laughable, while others are truly heartbreaking, especially when lives are lost on our roads due to negligence, corruption, and defiance of traffic safety measures. In short, what is happening is a collective escape by both the state and the citizens from morality, alongside a mad spectacle on the highways and side roads that shows no signs of ending soon.
Images have spread on social media of missing manhole covers that have left huge holes, which citizens have covered with strange objects to warn passing vehicles. An improvised laundry rack, a giant ball, a plant... these are the innovations of citizens in the absence of responsible state authorities to maintain our roads. So, who is responsible?
Tanius Boules, the Director General of Roads and Buildings at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, admits, "Indeed, there is no regular maintenance on Lebanon's roads due to the ministry's limited budget compared to the demands of contractors. Unfortunately, we are forced to carry out only the necessary and urgent maintenance and repair works." He added in an interview with MTV, "The Ministry of Public Works should not bear full responsibility for what is happening on the roads; there are other bodies responsible for this issue, such as the National Traffic Safety Council, and the absence of the Traffic Control Room due to damage from the Beirut Port explosion, which had been making great efforts to monitor and observe road conditions. Additionally, there is a complete absence of lighting due to electricity cuts, which facilitates the theft of manhole covers and all safety equipment on the roads. This issue falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Energy and the security forces to prevent what is happening and control the thieves."
In a related context, Boules also holds citizens responsible for the accidents occurring on the roads, stating, "The condition of the roads is a shared responsibility, and citizens are also responsible. We have lost 250 lives in recent months due to traffic accidents, which is a high number. It has been shown that 70% of accidents are caused by speeding and people being distracted by their phones. Additionally, cars in Lebanon are not properly maintained or repaired due to the poor economic situation."
When asked how they are preparing for the winter and the rains, the Director General of Roads and Buildings replied, "We do what we can as a ministry, and of course, we will perform our role before winter as usual by opening and cleaning drainage channels to prevent flooding. However, this year is particularly difficult for us in every aspect."
Lebanon's roads have become a theater of theft and a large arena for death, with little remaining except for the asphalt, just like the state of the country...
