Start the year with a goal of zero road fatalities
An opinion piece for Rosh Hashanah calling for a national target of zero road fatalities during the holiday period. The author cites data showing that over 60% of fatal accidents in 2025 occurred on intercity roads, and urges personal responsibility: buckling seat belts, avoiding driving while tired, and refraining from phone use. The article also addresses the unique safety risks of Yom Kippur, noting that 863 people were injured in cycling accidents over the last three Yom Kippur holidays.
An opinion piece by Israel Goldberg for Rosh Hashanah, calling for a national target of zero road fatalities during the holiday period. The author cites a startling statistic: over 60% of fatal accidents in 2025 occurred on intercity roads, precisely the roads traveled by hundreds of thousands of families during the holidays. The central call is for personal responsibility before and after getting behind the wheel: buckling seat belts, sitting in the appropriate seat, avoiding driving while tired, putting the phone aside, maintaining distance, and driving at a reasonable speed. The author emphasizes that "there is no room for shortcuts on the road" and that five minutes saved are not worth risking human life. The article also addresses the unique safety challenge of Yom Kippur, where children and teenagers ride bicycles, scooters, and rollerblades on seemingly empty roads. The author cites Magen David Adom data: in the last three Yom Kippur holidays, 863 people were injured while riding, and 99 people were injured in vehicle-related road accidents on Yom Kippur itself. The message to children must be clear: a road that looks empty is still dangerous, due to emergency vehicles and non-Jewish drivers. The article concludes with an educational call to talk to children about road safety around the holiday table, not just after an accident.