Road Accidents Near Israeli Schools Surge 30%, Claiming 33 Young Lives in 5 Years

Recent data reveals a concerning rise in road accidents involving children and young people in the vicinity of kindergartens and educational institutions across Israel. The statistics indicate a significant increase in severe and fatal injuries, alongside a sharp jump in injuries sustained by electric scooter users.

According to Yaniv Yaakov, the Director-General of the "Or Yarok" (Green Light) Association, the figures highlight the dangers children and youth face on roads surrounding educational facilities, particularly during peak activity hours. Over the past five years, 6,690 individuals aged 5 to 19 were injured in accidents near educational institutions nationwide. Of these, 568 suffered serious injuries, and 33 died, bringing the total number of severe and fatal injuries to 601. This represents a 30% increase compared to the preceding period, signaling a worsening of traffic risks around schools.

The data, compiled from accidents occurring between 7 AM and 7 PM in areas surrounding educational institutions, utilized school location data from the Ministry of Education and accident statistics from the Central Bureau of Statistics. The report also highlights a dramatic surge in injuries among electric scooter riders. The number of injured scooter users rose from 182 cases between 2016 and 2021 to 759 cases between 2021 and 2026, an increase of 317%. Furthermore, severe injuries from electric scooter accidents escalated by 463%.

These figures underscore a clear escalation in the risks confronting children and young people near educational settings, especially with the growing popularity of electric mobility devices and the associated severe accidents and injuries.