The Battle Against Traffic Accidents in the Arab Sector

9 years, 3 months ago - 1 September 2015, Jerusalemonline

Since the beginning of 2014, almost 40% of the fatalities in traffic accidents in Israel are from the Arab sector. One of the reasons for the large number of fatal accidents is a lack of police enforcement in Arab communities.

The Israeli Police Traffic Division launched a special enforcement operation aimed at reducing the number of fatalities in traffic accidents in the Arab sector in order to punish traffic offenders, who endanger other people’s lives.

The Traffic Police trained thoroughly for the operation. Special units were also recruited. One of the units which led the operation was the motorcycle commando unit. The policemen’s helmets were installed with cameras, which documented their activity the whole time.

“The Arab society stands helpless against lawbreakers who drive in residential areas,” explained Chief Superintendent Arad Zeitun, commander of the Motorcycle Commando Unit. “We run into youngsters with no license driving wildly.”

Last year, 549 people were killed in Israel in traffic accidents. 40% of them were Israeli Arabs. The operation’s results speak for themselves. During the one month operation, 40 drivers were arrested for life threatening driving, 74 driving licenses were revoked, 202 drivers were caught driving with no valid licenses or revoked licenses, and 128 vehicles were disabled. The Police are convinced that due to the enforcement activity, many people’s lives were saved.