Israel Braces for Holiday Travel Chaos: Major Road Congestion Expected

Israel's Traffic Division is warning of severe traffic congestion across the country as citizens embark on holiday journeys, particularly for Rosh Hashanah meals. Peak traffic is anticipated around 4:00 PM, approximately two hours before the holiday begins.

Major highways, including Routes 1, 6, 2, 4, 65, and 77, are expected to experience significant delays. Specific problem areas include Route 1 and 443 with heavy traffic heading towards Jerusalem, Route 6 experiencing continuous jams along its length, and Routes 2 and 4 seeing congestion from the central region up to Haifa. Routes 65 and 77 are also predicted to be busy with travelers heading north and towards the Sea of Galilee.

The Israel Police is deploying hundreds of traffic officers, volunteers, marked and unmarked patrol cars, motorcycles, and observation units to manage the expected influx. Their objective is to maximize traffic flow, direct congestion at critical intersections, and provide rapid responses to incidents.

Authorities are urging the public to depart as early as possible, stay updated via navigation apps, and exercise patience. Increased enforcement will target life-threatening driving offenses, including drunk driving, speeding, dangerous overtaking, and distracted driving, with a policy of zero tolerance.