Crash course

December 17, 2008 - 8:46 AM by David

The scene of yesterday's bus crash

The scene of yesterday's bus crash

It was horrifying to hear and watch the details of yesterday’s tragic bus accident outside of Eilat unfold. Our hearts go out to the families of the 60 Russian tourists who who had just arrived in Israel for a vacation when their bus plunged down 200 foot ravine killing 24 of them. It’s been called the worst road accident in Israel’s history, and reckless driving is being blamed.

Watching the scenes from the crash on the afternoon TV bulletins, one thought kept recurring – why doesn’t this happen more often here? Because despite some claims that the poor roads are the main cause of our prolific traffic fatality toll, it’s clear the real reason is because of the drivers.

The 39-year-old bus driver of the private tour bus, who sustained serious injuries, had 22 prior traffic convictions, a toll police admitted wasn’t unusual for a driver with 20 years on the road. Seems like alot to me.

I take an Egged bus from Jerusalem to Ma’aleh Adumim – a 20 minute drive – on the average of three times a week. There’s nary one journey in which the driver, a trained professional, doesn’t exceed the speed limit, careening down the steep incline heading out of Jerusalem toward the Dead Sea. I’ve learned to close my eyes and turn up the MP3 volume, because every time I’ve ever cautioned the driver, I’ve always received the same answer – ‘Al tidag, yihye b’seder’ don’t worry, it’ll be fine.

Likewise, when I’m waiting for the bus at the bus stop close to my home, it’s right next to a stop sign in which the driver is required to turn left, or head straight into a one-way street the wrong way. An informal study I’ve conducted over the last year indicates that only 40% of the drivers come to a complete stop, with 20% easing through, and a whopping 40% driving through the stop sign as if it didn’t exist.

When I’m driving from Jerusalem to Tiberias on the Jordan Valley road, through narrow, windy, roads, I stick to the speed limit because I honestly don’t think I would have full control of the car if I exceeded that speed of 90 kilometers an hour. Well, I’m flashed with the brights and passed by virtually every other car on the 30 or 40 kilometer journey. Simply put, Israelis think they’re invincible on the road.

These are the norms of driving that we live with – and die with – here. And until every driver internalizes the fact that the rules of the road exist to protect them, then accidents like yesterday’s will continue at an unabated pace.

Tags: , , , , , , • Category: General, Israeliness, Life, Travel 

Comments

One Comment on Crash course

  1. Larry W in Los Angeles on Wed, Dec 17th 2008 7:42 PM

    2. While I have jokingly referred to driving in Israel as guerilla warfare, I will use that joke no more. There is no question that aggressiveness on the road is a cultural characteristic (not to mention the insanity of the motocyclists and scooter riders) that causes me–a former New York city cab driver and a motocyclist today–to think and drive very differently in Israel. The only good news for David and those who think that things have to change might be this: New York drivers may be more like Israelis but California drivers are pretty respectful on the road and seem, for the most part, to adhere to rules of the road which, as David notes, is the way to make driving safe. As to road rage, well, that’s another story altogether…

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