Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Urges Action on Elderly Passenger Safety

Meital Lehavi, Tel Aviv's Deputy Mayor and head of its transportation committee, has formally requested that Transportation Minister Miri Regev address an urgent safety issue concerning the validation of public transport rides by senior citizens. The letter, also sent to Mayor Ron Huldai and other senior officials, highlights a significant danger that has emerged since the expansion of free travel for seniors aged 67 and above. Current regulations require all passengers, including seniors who travel for free, to validate their Rav-Kav card or app upon boarding.

Lehavi warns that this policy creates a hazardous situation for the elderly, who are forced to stand for extended periods after boarding before reaching a seat. She notes that drivers often begin moving before seniors are settled, leading to loss of balance, stumbles, and falls within the bus. This problem has been exacerbated by the introduction of electric buses, which accelerate more rapidly, causing sharper initial movements.

Data from the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research at Sheba Medical Center reveals the severity of the issue. Between December 2015 and December 2025, 1,520 people were hospitalized in Israel due to falls on buses. Of these, 11% sustained serious or critical injuries, and seven passengers died. Monthly, an average of 150 passengers are hospitalized, with many more treated at the scene or released the same day. The majority of those hospitalized (68%) are over 60, with 73% being women, predominantly from the older age group. Injuries commonly include fractures or sprains, and 16% required rehabilitation.

Lehavi argues it is unacceptable for a population recognized by the state for free travel to be subjected to a risky technical procedure solely for statistical recording and financial reconciliation between the state and transport operators. She calls for an immediate exemption from validation for seniors or an alternative mechanism that eliminates the need for prolonged standing at the start of the journey.

However, the article notes that eliminating validation for seniors presents systemic challenges. Validation is not just for financial accounting but is the primary source for calculating ridership, demand, and government subsidies for line operators. Furthermore, the difficulty in standing and validating immediately upon boarding affects not only seniors but also individuals with disabilities, parents with strollers, and those carrying heavy shopping. Therefore, singling out seniors for an exemption could create an unmanageable operational problem.