Police Triple Number of Tickets for Traffic Violations

A policy of enhanced traffic law enforcement continued this week, as Israelis took to the road for Independence Day, and will continue into the summer, police said, after reviewing the success of the aggressive campaign to keep drivers in line over Chol Hamoed Pesach. During that period, police gave out over 8,000 tickers for traffic violations – nearly three times the number given out during Chol Hamoed Pesach a year ago.

For both Israel Independence Day yesterday – and then later this month for Lag BaOmer and the upcoming summer vacations – police said they would continue the campaign, as they attempt to reduce the number of accidents and ensure safer driving.

Over Chol Hamoed Pesach some 1,900 tickets – about a quarter of all those written – were for speeding. According to the Israel Road Safety Agency, 13.4 percent of all road accidents were due to speeding in 2016, the latest year for which data was available.

Another major violation for which police issued tickets – about 1,000 – was for use of cellphones while driving.And 90 drivers were caught driving drunk. Police yanked the licenses of 182 drivers for at least 30 days because of their violations, and 133 vehicles were pulled off the road for safety issues.

Police said that “officers and volunteers operated on main roads and managed traffic in order to prevent traffic jams, which quickly formed as many drivers were on the road. They also enforced traffic laws with determination, using exposed and hidden means to observe drivers, and to encourage safe driving and prevent traffic violations.”