Deputy Minister of Transportation (Likud) Tzipi Hotevely is working to increase fines for drivers who text while operating a vehicle. If she has her way, the fine will be increased to 1,500 NIS.

The process to implement a stiffer fine was started by Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz in the previous Knesset and Hotevely is moving it along, working to get the final approvals to make the increased fine law.

She explains that statistics prove that 80% of vehicular accidents are caused by a driver having a lapse in concentration and texting is a big part of one taking one’s mind off of driving.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)