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Is there any wonder that public transportation is so weak in Lebanon? Every time anyone steps into one of those vehicles of doom, they might as well make a will and register as an organ donor beforehand. Is this claim an exaggeration?
“Not at all” would be the synonymous answer given by practically anyone. The appropriate term to describe the state of the roads is total pandemonium. All the attempts at reforming the traffic laws have been an abject failure because there was no pressure in terms of implementation and enforcing the new regulations beyond the first few weeks.
And what has that given birth to? The drivers act as if they own their side of their road and have shares on the other. They will blaze a trail of fire to match that in Fury Road as they dash forward to claim their prize: a passenger. They will stop at nothing, even if it meant breaking every law there is, to get that extra passenger who apparently makes the difference between rags and riches.
It might seem comical to imagine grown men rushing forth to reach the passenger first, but people have died or become maimed in the process. Some have developed into high-speed chases with some stabbing and shooting others. It becomes a turf war where drivers had to change where they work to avoid being hurt. It is no exaggeration to say there is a mafia like a monopoly on certain routes that are defended in a semi turf war situation.
Passengers have been hurt as innocent bystanders just by the merit of being unfortunate enough to get into the vehicle of one of the deranged drivers. There can also be disputes about the fare that have developed into shouting matches and physical confrontations. Asking the driver how much you owe them is an invitation to be robbed blind. Questioning it could end up costing you more than money.
Things will not improve easily because it has almost become socially acceptable to act in that vein. Chasing a measly fare is justification for total anarchy and risk of life and limb. This state of affairs is highly unacceptable and the civil movement has to be more vocal about it. It’s useless to advocate for new traffic laws when all those desperados will do is laugh in your face and peddle down even harder.
This article shows the reality of what people are suffering on daily basis while they have to hit the road whether they are heading to work, home or to do some errands.
Though we can see a massive presence of policemen on the roads, I can’t believe that they remain idle and neutral toward bus drivers race for a passenger and their raged brutality behind the wheel.
I wonder why?
These bus driver are a real danger for everyone and for themselves; and the government is required to prove its transparency and credibility by implementing the law and punishing the infractor.