Israel's Road Safety Authority Demands Wolt Operations Halt Over Safety Concerns
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israel's National Road Safety Authority has formally requested the police to halt all operations of the delivery company Wolt nationwide and pursue legal action against its CEO. The authority cites a business model that allegedly encourages reckless driving, leading to a significant increase in accidents involving Wolt couriers. Wolt denies the claims, stating they invest heavily in safety, while the NRSА insists on accountability and adherence to global standards.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel's National Road Safety Authority seeks to halt Wolt's operations and prosecute its CEO.
- The NRSА cites a business model that allegedly incentivizes reckless courier behavior.
- Around 40 monthly emergency calls mention "Wolt" due to traffic violations.
- Severe accidents involving light vehicles and pedestrians have surged over 40%.
- Wolt claims the NRSА is using safety as a PR stunt.
- The NRSА calls for Israel to adopt global regulations for delivery companies.
Israel's National Road Safety Authority (NRSА) has launched an unprecedented frontal assault against the delivery giant Wolt, demanding an immediate administrative order to cease the company's operations nationwide. The NRSА also seeks legal action against Wolt's CEO, Tomer Cohen, for repeated violations of traffic regulations. This escalation stems from the massive presence of Wolt's couriers, who number around 20,000 across approximately 400 localities, serving 12,000 businesses and over 3 million users.
The NRSА contends that Wolt's business model, which relies on independent contractors paid per delivery, incentivizes reckless, time-driven behavior to ensure rapid delivery. This structure, according to the authority, allows Wolt to profit immensely from public space usage while shirking responsibility for courier fitness and vehicle safety. The authority has also petitioned the Ministry of Transport's Traffic Administration to mandate the appointment of safety officers for major delivery companies.
Alarming data underpins these demands. An NRSА analysis of hundreds of thousands of emergency calls to the national hotline revealed approximately 40 monthly calls explicitly mentioning "Wolt" due to incidents like running red lights, riding on sidewalks, and endangering pedestrians. These figures coincide with a more than 40% surge in severe accidents involving light vehicles and pedestrians, resulting in hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities.
The NRSА is urging Israel to align with global regulations, citing New York's model which mandates protective gear, visible identification, and full vehicle fleet responsibility. They also call for the confiscation of vehicles and sanctions against workshops illegally upgrading engines.
Wolt responded by accusing the NRSА of using the couriers' safety issue as a public relations campaign to repair its own image, asserting that Wolt invests heavily in road safety. However, NRSА CEO Gilad Cohen countered that claims of investment are no substitute for genuine responsibility and tangible results on the ground.