Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” reports that the cabinet was traumatized yesterday, after Minister of Transport Avigdor Lieberman concluded that the ministers need a shock. Lieberman arrived at the cabinet meeting with a large framed picture depicting a horrendous traffic accident: a car that had run a red light and hit a motorcycle.
A shocked Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "This is awful." Then came the time to present the numbers, which shocked the ministers no less than the reality of the picture. For 90 minutes, Lieberman, Israel Police Traffic Department head Maj.-Gen. Jacob Raz and Ministry of Transport Road Safety Authority director general Victor Rubin briefed the cabinet. The end result was that Israel has declared war on road accidents.
The number of Israelis killed in road accidents since independence in 1948 is greater than the number killed in wars and terrorist attacks. In 2002, 522 Israelis were killed in road accidents. 20,500 Israelis have been killed in wars and terrorist attacks between May 1948 and May 2003, compared with 21,600 killed in road accidents.
Raz said 98% of road accidents in Israel were caused by human error. "The number of fatal road accidents fell 15% last year," he said. "We must preserve this achievement, although it is far from satisfactory."
Lieberman presented another harsh figure: Over 100,000 Israelis drive without a license, or despite the courts having revoked their licenses.
Lieberman said the direct cost to the country from road accidents was NIS 10 billion a year.
The Ministry of Transport and Israel Police have launched "Project 16", referring to 16 sections of roads with a higher than average accident rate. The Public Works Department and Police Traffic Department are studying how to improve the roads' infrastructure and increase law enforcement on these road sections.
In another innovation, 300 digital cameras have been installed across Israel, 120 at traffic lights and 180 along roads, at a cost of NIS 100 million. The cameras send information online to control rooms.
Lieberman said, "Studies across the world show that increased use of cameras reduces the number of road accidents by 30%."
During the Knesset winter session, the Ministry of Transport will submit a series of bills for stricter penalties for traffic violations. The first bill will include confiscating vehicles belonging to traffic violators.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on October 20, 2003