A new campaign has been launched in Gush Etzion under the banner “Making Peace on the Road”, involving Hebrew and Arabic signs calling on motorists to drive safely. It is a known fact that the Gush Etzion-Yerushalayim Road is the venue of too many accidents, especially in the area of Efrat.

At 11:00am Thursday morning (23 Elul) that national death toll on the nation’s roads reached 316. Other signs, including “Do Not Murder” and “We Share a Common Language on the Road” are being propped into position in the hope of increasing driver awareness. PA (Palestinian Authority) residents are involved in a disproportionate number of accidents, some feel for a number of reasons, including the fact that many of their vehicles are simply not properly maintained, but primarily due to their poor driving habits, which any regular motorists in these areas can attest too.

The campaign is underway in Gush Etzion, funded by the Gush Regional Council, and officials are hopeful that the area’s 70,000 Jewish residents and the many Arab residents will heed the signs and drive accordingly.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)