Israel Police’s Traffic Enforcement Unit is adopting a new philosophy, one that entrails revealing the location of speed and red signal cameras in the hope of making drivers aware and thereby slowing motorists down. As of midday Monday 27 Teves 5774, the death toll nationwide among motorists and pedestrians has reached an alarming 311. This is undoubtedly connected to the Israel Police decision to develop a smartphone application that will be available in 2014, an app that will reveal the location of the cameras around the country.

Commander Moshe Edri, who heads the traffic enforcement unit, is confident that motorists will respond positively by slowing down and that is the goal. Edri hopes to continue installing new speed-monitoring cameras and release their location in the hope the knowledge will deter speeders. The commander is also weighing other options including a zero tolerance policy to drivers who break vehicular law.

The police app will also provide motorists with traffic conditions, with officials explaining it can provide more real time information than Waze since police are constantly monitoring surveillance cameras and are not beholden to reports from motorists. The app will also include traffic safety tips, and provide information pertaining to the vehicular law, the amount of a fine for a particular offence and the number of points one receives on one’s license.

Edri explains that after the app is operational, anyone receiving a summons can understand the severity of the offense, the penalty and consequences.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)