(haipo) The Knesset's Economics Committee approved on Monday (22/6/26) the amendment to the traffic regulations submitted by the Ministry of Transportation and Road Safety. The amendment includes a stricter penalty for offenses that cause fatal accidents, such as using a mobile phone while driving and failing to yield the right of way to pedestrians, along with a lighter penalty for offenses that are not life-threatening.
Adjusting the scoring system – aggravation for life-threatening offenses and lightening for minor offenses
The approved amendment comes as part of adapting the scoring system to the Administrative Traffic Violations Law, which went into effect last February.
Among the main changes approved:
- The score for using a mobile phone while driving will increase from 8 to 10 points.
- Failure to yield the right of way to pedestrians at a crosswalk will also result in 10 points.
- Driving on the sidelines will increase from 6 to 10 points.
Serious speeding violations will continue to carry a high score depending on the severity of the violation.
The Ministry of Transportation emphasizes that the changes are intended to focus enforcement and deterrence on offenses that pose a real risk to human life, while maintaining proportionality towards drivers who commit minor offenses.
Using a mobile phone while driving endangers all road users.
Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, Brigadier General (resp.) Miri Regev"We are committed to saving lives on the roads and are working on all fronts to reduce the number of deaths and injuries. Alongside the unprecedented investment in safety infrastructure, outreach, education and advanced technological means, toughening punishment is a central pillar in the fight against road accidents."
Minister Regev added that "anyone who chooses to use a mobile phone while driving or commits other life-threatening offenses endangers themselves and all road users," and noted that the goal is "to strengthen deterrence, change the driving culture and increase the personal responsibility of every driver."
A clear distinction between minor offenses and offenses that cause serious accidents
Director General of the Ministry of Transportation, Moshe Ben Zaken, He said that "the scoring system is an important tool for changing driver behavior and increasing road safety. The amendment approved today creates a clear distinction between minor offenses and offenses that are a major factor in serious accidents."
Ben Zaken added that "the Ministry of Transportation will continue to work together with all parties to increase awareness, enforcement and deterrence with the aim of reducing the number of road casualties and saving lives."
The regulations will enter into force 30 days after their publication in the Official Gazette and will apply to traffic offenses and violations committed after that date.
What is really needed:
– A driver caught without a license or with a negative one: A. Loss of the vehicle, sale by the state + denial of all entitlement to National Insurance + denial of the right to vote/be elected + 3 years of community service in a rehabilitation hospital
– A young driver who drives in a disorderly manner, endangering the public: as above.
– Immediate sentencing for traffic offenders, including up to a month in prison and a fine of 3 salaries, for life-threatening offenses such as crossing a white line
A change in the level of punishment for life-threatening traffic offenses must be difficult, painful, and have only one meaning - disqualification of the driver's license for 60 days!
Mandatory points do not change driving.
The Ministry of Transportation would do well to examine in the field what is happening regarding the points, the lawyers, the police prosecution, and the courts, and I noted all of this very, very delicately.
Are there any traffic police vehicles in Haifa?
How will they give points when there are no police officers?