Israel Braces for Holiday Travel Gridlock as Rosh Hashanah Begins
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Israel's Traffic Division warned of severe traffic jams across the country on Friday ahead of Rosh Hashanah. Hundreds of thousands are traveling, with major routes expected to be heavily congested, prompting a large police deployment to manage the situation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel anticipates major traffic jams for Rosh Hashanah holiday travel.
- Peak congestion is expected Friday afternoon before the holiday begins.
- Major highways nationwide are affected, including routes to Jerusalem and the north.
- Police deployed hundreds of officers to manage traffic and enforce safety laws.
- Drivers are advised to leave early and use navigation apps.
Israel's Traffic Division has issued a detailed map of expected congestion as hundreds of thousands of families travel for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, which begins Friday evening. Heavy traffic is already being reported across the country, with the "bottlenecks" anticipated to peak around 4 p.m. on Friday, just two hours before the holiday commences.
The most affected routes include Highway 1 and Highway 443 leading to Jerusalem, Highway 6 throughout its length, particularly northbound, and coastal roads like Highway 2 and Highway 4 from central Israel to Haifa. Northern routes, including Highways 65 and 77 near the Sea of Galilee, are also experiencing significant delays.
To manage the surge and ensure safety, the Israel Police has deployed hundreds of officers, volunteers, marked and unmarked patrol cars, motorcycles, and surveillance equipment to key junctions and roads. These forces will focus on regulating traffic, providing rapid assistance for incidents, and strictly enforcing laws against dangerous driving, including drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving.
The Traffic Division advises drivers to depart early, stay updated on real-time navigation apps, and exercise patience during their journeys.
