A Knesset committee is expected to approve recommendations from Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz which will place additional restrictions on new drivers, extending their “new driver” status as follows.
A new driver will retain that status for two years from the date a license is granted. During this time period, there will be special rules in affect towards compelling increased adherence to vehicular law in the hope of the new driver developing proper driving habits that will remain with him/her.
A new driver will not receive a license but rather a temporary license that expires in a half year. During that time period the new driver will have to document 50 hours of supervised driving which must include a minimum of 20 hours urban, 15 hours highway and other non-urban and 15 hours nighttime driving. The seasoned driver(s) will have to sign attesting to the supervised time and then the new driver will be permitted to turn in the paperwork and request a permanent license.
A new driver who was certified as a driver in the IDF will be exonerated from the supervised driving hours in civilian life providing s/he can bring documentation from the military.
A qualified driver escort is anyone 24 or older with the same category license as the “new driver” for at least five years or 30 or older with a license for at least three years or any certified driving instructor with at least give years experience.
During the probationary period, the “new driver” is restricted as to the number of passenger s/he may take, and must pass the time without punitive points for certain violations; such as speeding or passing a red traffic signal. After five years, in order to renew the license, the new driver will have to take a driver’s refresher course too.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
Hopefully this will start the process of controlling the amount of car accidents that occur yearly r”l. Just lets hope people will be honest with their list of driving hours. Otherwise what’s the point?
To inculcate good driving habits, enforce proper road behaviour on the existing drivers.
Give fines for not stopping at pesestrian crossings, for overtaking on the right, for honking to make the car in front drive faster, for cutting in front of another car without warning with indicators.
Professional drivers such as taxi, truck and bus drivers must be treated more strictly than others, as they allow themselves liberties under the duress of their work.
Have frequent speed traps, unheralded by the press and stop the carenage on thne roads.
Don’t take it out on the youngsters who have to spend a small fortune to get a licence, the are copying the behaviour of their adult experienced peers.
Overkill in my opinion. Better idea: lower car registration costs for any vehicle that has an AWACS or similar system installed (costs ~1000 nis)
This doesn’t seem well thought out. It is only going to cause people to lie. I don’t see any realistic outcome from this mandate.
As if it wasn’t hard enough already….on top of that it costs an small fortune….
What should be improved to save lives on Israel’s streets is the quantity and quality of the Police…..