European countries have proven that road accidents are not a fate from heaven, and have managed to reduce the number of fatalities over the past decade by an average of 22%. In contrast to the European success, Israel saw an increase of 15.8% in the number of fatalities during those years.
Killed in a car accident between three trucks on Highway 6 // Archive | According to Section 27A of the Copyright Law
"2023 is a year of failure in the fight against carnage on the roads, a year in which the number of fatalities not only did not decrease, but also increased," says attorney Yaniv Yaakov, CEO of Or Yarok, following data showing that 356 people were killed on the roads this year compared to 351 last year (an increase of two percent).
The figures published by the association show that there were 2023 fatal road accidents in 333 (at least one fatality in an accident) compared to 319 on the same date in 2022 – an increase of 5 per cent. In the past year, there was a record number of electric bicycle riders killed since these vehicles were introduced in Israel – 26. In addition, two e-scooter riders and nine regular cyclists were killed (a total of 37 cyclists were killed). Road accidents killed 35 children under the age of 14 – the highest number in the past decade.
Fatal car accident in the south, archive, photo: Michelle Dot Com
Tel Aviv leads in the number of fatalities in major cities with 15, Jerusalem 14, Haifa 10, and Beersheba and Bat Yam with 8. 98 people from Arab society have been killed in road accidents in 2023. 195 people were killed in accidents on intercity roads - 55% of all fatalities. 155 people were killed on urban roads (43% of all fatalities) and six people were killed in open areas.
A report by the European Road Safety Council ETSC reveals the magnitude of Israel's failure to reduce the number of road accident fatalities over the past decade. According to the report, Israel ranks in the penultimate place – 31 out of 32 countries – in the change in the number of road accident fatalities between 2022 and 2012 among all EU countries.
Car accident (illustration), photo: GettyImages
The report shows that European countries have proven that road accidents can be combated, and have succeeded in reducing the number of fatalities by an average of 22%. In contrast to the European success, Israel recorded an increase of 15.8% in the number of fatalities during those years.
Even in the field of those seriously injured as a result of accidents, Israel is in the penultimate position. Sometimes the difference between a dead person and a seriously injured person is a thread, and the European Council examined the change made by each country in the data in this area. European countries managed to reduce the number of seriously injured in road accidents by an average of 14%, while in Israel the number of seriously injured jumped by 21%, one place ahead of Italy (an increase of 22%), which is in last place.
Car accident, photo: Getty Images
"Unfortunately, not only is the State of Israel operating without a multi-year national plan to reduce the number of road accident fatalities, it is also cutting money that is directed to saving lives, and the result is a fatality every day," says Yaniv Yaakov. Why is the loss of life on the road accepted with indifference and equanimity, as if it were a decree of fate?
"In 2024, the state will continue to fight to save lives, and our cry and that of the bereaved families seeks to save lives on the road and prevent immense grief, pain and tragedy for hundreds more families every year."
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