Lebanon Is Considering Lowering the Driving Age to 16, And We Have CONCERNS
A proposal to lower the legal driving age in Lebanon from 18 to 16 years old has made it onto the government’s legislative agenda, and it’s safe to say we’re concerned.
The bill, submitted by MP Bilal Al-Hashimi, seeks to amend Traffic Law No. 243/2012 by allowing 16-year-olds to get a driver’s license, a change that would bring Lebanon in line with some countries that permit driving at that age, though it’s raising eyebrows given the state of the country’s roads and our attitude towards driving.
Lebanon’s driving culture is, to put it mildly, a world of its own. Lane markings are widely treated as suggestions, helmets are optional in spirit if not in law, and road rage is all too common. Against that backdrop, the prospect of putting more teenage drivers on the road has understandably given us pause.
Statistics show that Lebanon averages over 3,000 traffic accidents annually, with a range of 400 to 450 resulting in fatalities, with young men aged 18 to 30 accounting for a disproportionate majority of traffic incidents. Adding more young, inexperienced drivers to that mix is unlikely to help.
And there’s the question of timing. Critics are already pointing out that the most immediate effect of lowering the driving age wouldn’t be safer roads or smoother traffic, it would be a fresh wave of licensing fees flowing into government coffers, at a time when public finances remain under pressure.
This proposal is set to be discussed during tomorrow’s session, and we’ll be watching 3ala a3sabna.
