Comments on: Road carnage in Israel http://israelity.com/2009/07/12/road-carnage-in-israel/ Life beyond the conflict Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:20:47 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jessica Lieberman http://israelity.com/2009/07/12/road-carnage-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-293399 Jessica Lieberman Thu, 16 Jul 2009 17:09:41 +0000 http://israelity.com/?p=11709#comment-293399 As a frequent traveler to and lover of Israel as well as an intern for ASIRT (Association of Safe International Road Travel) I am deeply saddened by the news of this crash and the six lives lost as a result of the Friday night Beit Shemesh crash. At the same time I am frustrated and disturbed with the general situation of Israeli road safety or lack thereof. Unfortunately, this is not at all an isolated or uncommon occurrence. Instances of vehicular and pedestrian accidents in Israel are prevalent and affect all areas of society—the disastrous implications of accidents such as these are not limited to drivers and victims, but rather influence the families of those involved, tourists in the country and every single Israeli who becomes associated with the countries poor reputation for the safety of its citizens and visitors. As a general rule, the death rate from vehicular accidents in developed countries in on the decrease, while it is developing countries it is increasing. Israel is a technologically advanced, developed country in the Middle East however deaths from vehicular crashes continue to overwhelm society. The World Health Organization posits that the leading factors causing this phenomenon are drunk driving, speeding, lack of helmet and seatbelt use and poor infrastructure. I myself spent last summer traveling around Israel with a group of 60 Americans and a year later can distinctly recall discussions with peers as to the many accidents witnessed, damaged cars, reckless driving and failures to adhere to speed limits, road signs and pedestrian crossings. As a large group that crossed the street often over the course of our stay we playfully made t-shirts at the end of the summer reading “We Stop Traffic” however on a less humorous note, we did have a few encounters with vehicles narrowly missing members of our group and stopping short at intersections in the last moment despite our right of way. The urgency of this issue is evident—Israel must begin taking responsibility for the lives being lost all too frequently on the roads and take stronger steps. As a frequent traveler to and lover of Israel as well as an intern for ASIRT (Association of Safe International Road Travel) I am deeply saddened by the news of this crash and the six lives lost as a result of the Friday night Beit Shemesh crash. At the same time I am frustrated and disturbed with the general situation of Israeli road safety or lack thereof. Unfortunately, this is not at all an isolated or uncommon occurrence. Instances of vehicular and pedestrian accidents in Israel are prevalent and affect all areas of society—the disastrous implications of accidents such as these are not limited to drivers and victims, but rather influence the families of those involved, tourists in the country and every single Israeli who becomes associated with the countries poor reputation for the safety of its citizens and visitors.
As a general rule, the death rate from vehicular accidents in developed countries in on the decrease, while it is developing countries it is increasing. Israel is a technologically advanced, developed country in the Middle East however deaths from vehicular crashes continue to overwhelm society. The World Health Organization posits that the leading factors causing this phenomenon are drunk driving, speeding, lack of helmet and seatbelt use and poor infrastructure.
I myself spent last summer traveling around Israel with a group of 60 Americans and a year later can distinctly recall discussions with peers as to the many accidents witnessed, damaged cars, reckless driving and failures to adhere to speed limits, road signs and pedestrian crossings. As a large group that crossed the street often over the course of our stay we playfully made t-shirts at the end of the summer reading “We Stop Traffic” however on a less humorous note, we did have a few encounters with vehicles narrowly missing members of our group and stopping short at intersections in the last moment despite our right of way.
The urgency of this issue is evident—Israel must begin taking responsibility for the lives being lost all too frequently on the roads and take stronger steps.

]]> By: Peter http://israelity.com/2009/07/12/road-carnage-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-293394 Peter Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:33:01 +0000 http://israelity.com/?p=11709#comment-293394 It bears mentioning that more Israelis have been killed on the roads than in 62 years of wars and attacks. The human and economic cost is staggering. It would not be too far off the mark to regard this as a form of domestic terror. It bears mentioning that more Israelis have been killed on the roads than in 62 years of wars and attacks. The human and economic cost is staggering. It would not be too far off the mark to regard this as a form of domestic terror.

]]> By: David-Joe http://israelity.com/2009/07/12/road-carnage-in-israel/comment-page-1/#comment-293370 David-Joe Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:31:10 +0000 http://israelity.com/?p=11709#comment-293370 The general disregard for rules that is considered so "cute" by people and supposedly an Israeli "characteristic" cannot be considered free of blame. Rules and regulations in a society are there because they structure consideration for others and the safety of people. Why should someone obey the rules of the road but ignore the rule against smoking in places? It is illogical. The general disregard for rules that is considered so “cute” by people and supposedly an Israeli “characteristic” cannot be considered free of blame.

Rules and regulations in a society are there because they structure consideration for others and the safety of people.

Why should someone obey the rules of the road but ignore the rule against smoking in places? It is illogical.

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