BEIRUT, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Around 281 were dead and 3,432 injured in car accidents in Lebanon since the start of 2018, said a local report by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper.

"The main reason behind this increased number of car accidents in Lebanon is the absence of political will to organize and regulate this sector," a source at the Lebanese International Road Safety Academy (LIRSA) told Xinhua.

According to the Traffic Management Center of the Internal Security Forces, two were dead and 31 were injured in 22 car accidents in the past 24 hours with over 899 speeding tickets given on Aug. 12.

LIRSA told Xinhua that road accidents have increased because the government has never adopted a national road safety strategy.

The source also noted that other reasons for the increased car accidents are the lack of national capabilities and budget for road safety.

"We also need a budget to be spent on roads, media campaigns and programs for giving driving lessons in addition to other needs and requirements," it added.