Israel Police has announced in the near future an additional 150 speed cameras will be operating nationwide. In addition, a new system will be implemented that will send an SMS text message to a motorist informing him when and why he was photographed. The real-time text message will detail the offense. Police feel this will reduce the number of drivers who will try to challenge the summons. There is no mention of a text messaging possibly distracting a driver.

Among the experts there are those who question the effectiveness of the speed detection cameras other than generating a hefty income. From a cost profit point of view the cameras have more than been successful but experts question if they are contributing to the effort to get motorists to slow down. When the cameras were first set into place it was announced the objective was to reduce the number of accidents and that the program was not motivated by profit. Now the statistics speak for themselves and while the money is rolling in, there has not been a reduction in accidents.

In a recent Knesset committee discussion on the matter, Israel Police Traffic Enforcement Unit Chief Moshe Edri says otherwise, telling the committee that deaths resulting from excessive speeding are down from 18 in the first half of 2013 to 13 in 2014. However, during the same period of time there has been a 13% increase in the number of fatal accidents nationwide. Police speculate the increase in road deaths is due to the fact that during Operation Protective Edge there were less traffic enforcement units operating.

Police are pleased with the cameras and the plan to increase the project from the 135 currently operating nationwide today to 300 in the coming two months.

The Ministry of Public Security is happy to fund the cameras for in 2013, the cameras issued 104,627 fines which resulted in a summons of 730 shekels for a private vehicle and 3,500 for a vehicle registered to a company.

Officials of the National Road Safety Authority attending the Knesset committee session were less than encouraged by the numbers for they see a 2% increase in road deaths in 2014.

49 of the traffic deaths in 2014 to date are pedestrians, representing a 49% increase from the same time period a year ago. According to the National Road Safety Authority, 30-35% of all traffic fatalities are pedestrians.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)