adventures in driving: road safety

Last week the Internal Security Forces, the machine-gun toting outfit that passes for a police force in Lebanon, began text messaging me.

It wasn’t because I am special (tho of course I am!). The ISF and various other organizations send system wide sms’es from time to time, promoting everything from Red Cross blood donations to new internet services.

Last week’s were about road safety, campaigns for which seem to be the rage here, thanks primarily to youth-led groups like kunhadi.

The ISF’s sms contained the following, clumsily alliterative message:

Seat Belt … Saves Best

You are responsible

Road incidents are not accidental

Well. I agree with all three statements, although as with much Lebanese advertising I think the creators have erred on the side of choosing expressions that sound good, rather than those that communicate most effectively.

G forwarded a road safety PSA that I find much more compelling:

The message is “speed kills”.

Short, strong, smart.

And very appropriate for this country’s speed demon drivers.