(haipo) – The National Road Safety Authority launched the program "Safe city", a new national initiative that aims to reduce traffic accidents in urban areas and make Israel's streets safer for all road users. Among the first 13 authorities selected to participate in the program is Haifa, one of the largest and most complex cities in Israel in terms of transportation, will receive professional guidance, strategic planning, and dedicated budgets to improve safety on its streets.
Haifa among the authorities selected for the first phase
In the first phase of the plan, 13 local authorities were selected, including Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Haifa, Holon, Ramat Gan, Lod, Nes Ziona, Nof HaGalil, Nazareth, Taibe, Baqa al-Gharbiya, Rahat and Ashdod. The city of Haifa, which faces complex infrastructure, steep roads, old neighborhoods and extensive public transportation, is considered one of the most significant arenas for implementing the plan.
The local authority will formulate a strategic road safety plan, and may later be one of the seven authorities that will receive budgets to implement the plan on the ground.
Broad participation of professionals from all over the country
The launch event was attended by mayors, deputy mayors, CEOs, city engineers, directors of transportation and safety departments, alongside representatives of the Israeli Highway Patrol, the Ministry of Transportation, the Israel Police, and Netivei Ayalon. During the conference, the principles of the program, the joint working model with the authorities, and the professional tools that will help them build data-based urban safety programs were presented.
120 million NIS per year: a national investment in urban safety
The program, with a budget of 120 million NIS per year, will focus on several key areas:
- Improving transportation infrastructure
- Driving speed management
- Strengthening enforcement
- Promoting education and outreach
- Protecting pedestrians and vulnerable road users
The actions will be tailored to the characteristics of each authority and will be based on an analysis of injury data, in order to produce effective and measurable solutions.
Haifa: Potential for significant change in urban safety
For Haifa, the program represents an opportunity to upgrade the municipal safety system:
- Handling dangerous intersections
- Improving infrastructure in old neighborhoods
- Increasing pedestrian safety in the Carmel Center, Hadar, Kiryat Haim and other neighborhoods
- Adjusting driving speeds for steep and complex roads
- Strengthening enforcement in areas with high accident rates
The city, with its unique topography and complex road system, could benefit greatly from the plan.
Harlabd: A strategic move to save lives
The National Road Safety Authority defines "Safe City" as one of the most important strategic moves in recent years. The Authority thanked the Ministry of Transportation, local authorities, the Israel Police, Netivei Ayalon and all professional partners for their cooperation.
The main message: Together we can make cities in Israel safer and save lives through planning, responsibility, and joint action.
There is one main problem in Haifa that causes traffic accidents: the insane density of vehicles on the roads, while the state only allows more and more to be imported.