May 16, 2013

The World Telecommunication and Information Society Day is celebrated yearly on May 17 and marks the anniversary of the signature of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865 which led to the creation of the International Telecommunication Union.

This year, World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-2013) will focus on the theme: 'ICTs and improving road safety'.

Road traffic safety is a global concern not only for public health and injury prevention but also to improve efficiencies in traffic management as a means for combating the effects of climate change.

The ITU has been leading worldwide efforts in developing state-of-the-art ICT standards for Intelligent Transport Systems and driver safety that utilize a combination of computers, communications, positioning and automation technologies, including in-car radars for collision avoidance. The ITU has also been developing standards for safe user interfaces and communication systems in vehicles as well as optimizing driving performance by eliminating unsafe technology-related distractions while driving.

As the leading specialized agency of the United Nations for information and communication technologies (ICT), ITU looks towards its Members to harness the catalytic role of ICTs in improving road safety and traffic management systems.

Driver distraction and road-user behavior, which includes 'text messaging' and interfacing with in-vehicle navigation or communication systems while driving, are among the leading contributors to road traffic fatalities and injuries.

In that framework, the TRA will be initiating a series of actions in the upcoming months involving Telecom stakeholders in Lebanon to brainstorm, develop, and implement guidelines to improve road safety and launch an awareness campaign to prevent from the usage of ICT tools and services while on the road.

On this occasion, both Touch and Yasa disclosed the kick-off the second phase of their project on 'Don’t Text and Drive' during a press conference held in Phoenicia Hotel on May 14th during the presence of His Excellency Minister Sehnaoui. This campaign aims at warning our community on the risks of texting while driving. This event took place within the agenda of the 'Global Road Safety Week' which focuses on the safety of passengers around the world and the necessary actions needed to protect them. It is also good to note that the second step of the 'Don’t Text and Drive' project encompasses a press campaign through important communication channels including social media.