Establishment

On October 11, 2006, Kunhadi was registered as an official NGO at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities under the notification number 495. Heedful that the improvement and rehabilitation of road infrastructure and the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations require the intervention of the state and the pertinent authorities and cannot be carried out solely by a newly-emerging NGO, Kunhadi focused its primary mission on spreading awareness among the youth on road safety, noting that its scope of work expands today beyond awareness, as it assists the government and the relevant ministries in imposing stricter measures to minimize road hazards.

Top causes of traffic accidents in Lebanon

Traffic accidents remain the number one killer of young people aged between 15 and 29 years in Lebanon, while they rank second worldwide. In addition to loss of life, car crashes can also result in permanent disabilities and huge economic losses. However, one cannot prevent or halt the casualties, injuries and damages without a full understanding of the causes behind them. Although poor road conditions should not be ruled out as a significant factor in exacerbating the risks of auto accidents, Mrs. Lena Gebrane, founding member of Kunhadi, assures that over 85% of accidents occurs due to reckless and inattentive driving. According to Mrs. Gebran, the major causes behind traffic accidents in Lebanon are the following:

• Exceeding the speed limit
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Refraining from wearing the helmet
• Drowsy driving (fatigue and sleepiness)
• Not fastening the seat belt
• Distracted driving (driving while engaging in other activities such as using the mobile, putting on makeup, reading the newspaper, etc)

Mrs. Gebran points out that road rebuilding is not high on the agenda of a country mired in political and sectarian conflicts like Lebanon and this is why one should rely first and foremost on sensible and attentive driver behavior to minimize accident rates. “Speeding on Lebanon’s infamous substandard roads, which are known to stand nowhere near the civilized roads and highways of the Arab world and European countries, is similar to committing suicide,” says Mrs. Gebran, who does not absolve the state from blame, but still believes that the driver holds the biggest share of responsibility as safe driving can save one’s life even when roads are unsafe.

Activities

Being a youth-oriented organization, Kunhadi was keen on finding new and original ways to convey their message away from the conventional means of communication. To this end, Kunhadi hosts free interactive sessions in universities and schools all over Lebanon for students and distribute flyers and scented cards in conferences and on all special occasions (Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve…). It also promotes its mission through two annual campaigns launched on billboards, LED screens, scrollers, unipoles, radio and magazine ads, and on social media.

Kunhadi’s activism transcends awareness campaigns, as the organization has embarked on posting signs and installing road reflectors and cats’ eyes on dark roads to highlight non-visible curves, in addition to safe crossings around the schools to keep the students safe. It has also distributed 1200 helmets to delivery boys and donated another 850 to ISF motorcyclists and is planning to establish a Road Victim Support Center to assist traffic victims in their social and professional reintegration, a project which will be financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs.

Kunhadi acts as a lobbying force pushing for the approval and enactment of laws and regulations aimed at promoting their message and increasing road safety. In this context, it is worthwhile noting that the installation of radars to detect speeding drivers on Lebanon’s roads and highways in 2011 materialized following an in-depth technical study outlined and presented by Kunhadi to official authorities that were persuaded by the efficiency of the devices and decided to put the study into action. Mrs. Gebran points out that accident rates decreased by 37% and the casualties by 40%, two months after the installation of radars.

Funding

Similarly to all non-profit organizations, Kunhadi organizes fundraising events to obtain the funds necessary for its operations. Proceeds from Gala dinners and Taxi Nights go entirely to install retro-reflective markings and safety signs, while grants from supporters, including but not restricted to USAID, the Polish Embassy and FIA Foundation are usually provided on project-basis. However modest, Kunhadi welcomes any individual or corporate donations that help promote its mission and objectives.

Latest news

Throughout the years, Kunhadi has built a successful track record and established credibility, which manifested in its gaining the ISO 9001 certification for its effective quality management system. Currently, Lebanese and Spanish F3 Champion Noel Jammal will be joining hands with Kunhadi in advocating safe driving under the slogan: “We race on the track, but we drive on the roads.”