Each traffic fatality costs the state NIS 5.58 million, according to an analysis of National Road Safety Authority figures by Or Yarok Association for Safer Driving in Israel. The cost to the state of each person seriously injured in a traffic accident involving a four-wheeled vehicle is NIS 600,000-700,000, NIS 1.1 million in an accident involving a two-wheeled vehicle, and NIS 900,000 in an accident involving a pedestrian or bicyclist.
Over the past five years, the cumulative economic damage from traffic accidents is NIS 1.7 billion, an average of NIS 340 million a year.
The cost of reported traffic accidents fell 6% to NIS 7.27 billion in 2011 from NIS 7.75 billion in 2010.
Or Yarok CEO Shmuel Aboav said, "Continuing the budget allocations for road safety is critical for continuing the reduction in traffic fatalities, and it pays economically. The achievement in reducing traffic fatalities by 30% in 2012 is not due to luck or fate, but is the result of energetic activity in saving lives. Investing the necessary NIS 550 million a year to improve infrastructures of hazardous roads, proper enforcement, install advanced safety equipment for rapid evacuation, and road safety education, will further reduce fatalities and increase savings to the economy."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 6, 2012
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