The Or Yarok association strongly criticized the Ministry of Transportation, accusing them of neglecting their responsibilities. The chairman of the National Road Safety Authority has issued a grim forecast for the months ahead. Additionally, there is concern about which intersections are experiencing the most severe accidents.
A few days ago there was yet another tragic traffic incident on Route 90, which resulted in the deaths of four individuals, underscoring a troubling trend. Since the beginning of 2024, at least 221 Israelis have lost their lives in traffic accidents—an alarming 24% increase compared to the same period last year and the highest in over a decade. The budget of the National Road Safety Authority, tasked with addressing these issues, has declined over the past year, with hundreds of mobile phones and cameras missing compared to targets set nearly two decades ago.
In an updated report by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), revealed that a quarter of those killed in accidents were pedestrians and Motorcycle/scooter riders.
Israel's Police also published shocking data regarding this years traffic accidents stating that in June alone there was; 26,065 counts of drivers speeding, 11,890 reports filed for use of a telephone while driving, 3,274 incidents accounted of drivers passing a red light, and 498 drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt. These shocking statistics from one month alone demonstrate the gravity of the issue and lack of safety observed on roads overall.
"These are unprecedented and concerning figures that we haven't witnessed in 20 years," attorney Yaniv Yaakov, CEO of the Or Yerok association, told N12. "This rise in fatalities reflects longstanding negligence. The Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety has ignored its obligations, exacerbated during Minister Regev's tenure. There's a noticeable lack of action from any relevant authority to tackle this issue."
Former chief of staff Yonatan Yehosef, under Minister Miri Regev, revealed in the "Hamakor" investigation that the minister expressed disinterest in the professional aspects of her ministry. Professional meetings reportedly occur only biweekly, with little attention to road safety matters during other times. Knesset member Boaz Toporovski, chairman of the road safety sub-committee from Yesh Atid, criticized the government's handling of road safety, particularly noting Minister Regev's apparent lack of focus on the issue.
Yoram Halevi, chairman of the National Road Safety Authority, voiced frustration in a recent Knesset committee session, predicting a grim outcome: "This year may end with 450 deaths—the highest toll in the last 18 years. The authority currently lacks teeth, tools, powers, and adequate budgets to effectively fulfil its duties."
