Israel Seeks Ban on Wolt Delivery Service Over Safety Concerns
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Israel's National Road Safety Authority is seeking to ban Wolt operations due to alleged systematic traffic violations by its couriers and the absence of a safety officer. The authority cited a 40% increase in serious accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians in 2025. Wolt denies the claims, stating it invests in courier safety.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's National Road Safety Authority seeks to ban Wolt over traffic violations and lack of safety officer.
- The authority reported a 40% rise in serious accidents involving two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians in 2025.
- Wolt couriers have received hundreds of fines for traffic offenses, including riding on sidewalks.
- The service, owned by DoorDash, operates with 20,000 couriers across 400 Israeli locations.
- Wolt denies the allegations, calling them a PR stunt and asserting its commitment to courier safety.
Israel's National Road Safety Authority has filed a formal complaint with the police against the delivery service Wolt and its General Director Tomer Cohen, seeking an administrative ban on the company's operations in the country. The authority accuses Wolt's management of systematically disregarding traffic regulations and failing to appoint a mandatory road safety officer.
The primary legal contention is the absence of a dedicated road safety officer within Wolt's structure. The regulator asserts that Wolt couriers frequently engage in dangerous driving, posing a significant threat to pedestrians and other drivers. Concurrently, the authority has petitioned the Ministry of Transport to mandate safety specialist positions for all major logistics platforms.
Wolt, a Finnish service owned by DoorDash, has been operating in Israel since late 2018. It currently serves 400 localities, partners with 12,000 establishments, has 3 million customers, and employs approximately 20,000 couriers. Data from law enforcement indicates a substantial rise in accidents involving light two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians, with 51 serious incidents recorded in 2025, a 40% increase over previous years. Additionally, 231 collisions occurred with cars, and 107 two-wheeled vehicle riders, including cyclists and e-scooter users, have died on the roads this year.
Police data reveals that Wolt is mentioned in about 40 emergency calls monthly. Routine police patrols have resulted in hundreds of fines issued to Wolt couriers for riding on sidewalks and lacking helmets or license plates. Beyond halting operations, the authority is pushing for the confiscation of unregistered vehicles and criminal penalties for workshops illegally modifying e-bikes to increase their speed.
Wolt representatives have vehemently denied the accusations, characterizing the authority's actions as a public relations stunt. The company claims to invest significant financial resources in ensuring the safety of its couriers on the roads.
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