The nation’s Or Yarok (Green Light) organization, a leading NGO that promotes safe driving and road safety, is taking on the battle against the treasury, which is planning major cuts in the nation’s road safety budget in the 2009 state budget.

Or Yarok reports that 269 people have been killed on the nation’s roads in 2008, representing a 5% increase as compared to the same period a year ago. Nevertheless, the treasury is planning a NIS 200 million cut from the National Road Safety Authority as well as an additional NIS 100 million from the Transportation Ministry, funds used to pave and improve roadways and other road infrastructure.

The treasury explains that the road safety authority only used 70% of its 2007 budget, thereby justifying the cut. National Road Safety Authority officials responding to the report paint a different picture, insisting it used 99.9% of its 2007 budget, denying the accuracy of the treasury statement. Yair Dori, the director-general of the authority expressed his sorrow over what he called “the treasury’s policy of misleading the decision makers” regarding the state budget.

Transportation Authority officials decry the proposed cut, stating it will be reflected in the increase in the loss of life, preventing planned road improvements in many areas.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)