(haipo) – Residents living on Freud Road claim that the street has become a "race track," warn of a safety disaster, and issue an ultimatum to the Haifa Municipality: "We will not wait for blood to be shed for them to act."
The outcry from residents of Freud Street in Haifa is escalating. In a scathing letter sent to the Haifa Municipality and a petition that has been opened, the residents demand that a pedestrian crossing be immediately established and traffic calming measures be installed on the street, which they say has become particularly dangerous for pedestrians in recent years. They claim that vehicles and motorcycles are traveling at high speeds, accidents and collisions when exiting parking lots occur on a monthly basis, and the risk to human life is increasing.
According to residents, crossing Freud Street has become a dangerous task for all road users, children on their way to school, the elderly, parents with strollers, and residents seeking to cross the road safely.
In their letter, the residents write that the street has become a "racetrack for all intents and purposes," and warn that it is a "daily Russian roulette." They also note that collisions between vehicles exiting parking lots occur almost every month and that only by a miracle has a major disaster been avoided so far. The residents sharply criticize the claim that a crosswalk cannot be installed due to the high speed of travel on the street. According to them, this is a "logical failure and a managerial oversight," since if speed is the problem, the municipality should act to slow down traffic using physical means and not avoid building a crosswalk.
Among the main demands that the residents are making of the Haifa Municipality: the construction of a pedestrian crossing in a central and accessible location that will allow safe crossing for pedestrians, the installation of speed bumps (bumpers) or other physical measures that will require drivers to reduce their speed, and the presentation of a clear and binding timetable for carrying out the work. According to them, these are basic and necessary steps designed to prevent accidents and improve the safety of all road users on the street.
In their letter, the residents warn that they will not agree to continue living under constant threat. "We will not wait for blood to be spilled on the road," they wrote, adding that if a disaster occurs, the responsibility will lie with the decision-makers who failed to act despite the warnings.
They also announce that if an immediate response is not received that includes a commitment to action, they intend to intensify the public struggle. Among the steps on the agenda: holding resident demonstrations and even blocking Freud Street, one of Haifa's main transportation arteries, until safety solutions are arranged. The residents conclude their appeal with a clear message: "The time has come for action, not excuses," and call on the Haifa Municipality to act immediately to prevent the next disaster.
Alon Shavi, A resident of Freud Street and father of three small children, warns that this is a serious safety hazard. "This is a danger to life. It's only a matter of time before a disaster occurs here. I myself was almost run over twice, so one can only imagine the danger posed to children who cross the road every day. The municipality must find a real solution and not be satisfied with the answer sent to the residents, according to which there is no need for a crosswalk. If the municipality does not meet the residents' demands, we will take out protest measures. The road is dangerous all the way from the Horev intersection to the Ramat Eshkol neighborhood."
The Haifa Municipality informed Haifa:
"The Haifa Municipality held several meetings with the residents of the street, during which safety issues were raised and various suggestions were presented to improve the situation. Based on the issues raised, the Municipal Road Safety Committee held a professional discussion, in which several alternatives were examined and a set of solutions was formulated.
As part of the conclusions of the discussion, the road was roughened, signs were placed to limit the speed to 40 km/h, an information campaign was conducted to increase the safety of road users, and the municipality is currently formulating a request to the Israel Police to place a speed enforcement camera on the section of road.
As part of the examination of alternatives to improve safety, the possibility of marking a pedestrian crossing was also examined. After a professional examination and in accordance with the Ministry of Transportation's guidelines, the option was rejected, since due to the characteristics of the road, it could create a false sense of security for pedestrians, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
At the same time, the municipality continues to examine additional solutions for limiting speed along the street, with the aim of continuing to improve the safety of all road users."