Regev unveils plan to raise speed limits on selected highways

The move, developed by the National Road Safety Authority and the police, would allow driving at up to 110 km/h on selected routes, including Route 1 and Route 90 in the Arava. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said that in the coming days a plan will be presented to raise the speed limit on additional intercity roads from 90 to 110 km/h.

The plan was drawn up over the past few months by the National Road Safety Authority, in cooperation with the traffic police. The Transportation Ministry is presenting the move as an adjustment to a reality in which many drivers are already traveling at speeds above the limit on some roads.

The plan is intended to align the speed limit on selected roads after examining safety aspects, road accident data and widening works carried out in the field. According to estimates, among the roads where a speed increase will be examined are Route 1 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and Route 90 in the Arava on sections that have been widened to two lanes in each direction. Route 431 is also being examined, where the speed may rise in some sections from 70 to 90 km/h.

The new move is also expected to include speed adjustments at intersections and in various sections where the road infrastructure allows it. After the plan is implemented and the speed limit is raised, the police are expected to increase enforcement against drivers who exceed the new speed threshold that will be set on the roads.

A source close to the transportation minister said the goal of the move is to align the speed limit with road conditions while maintaining passenger safety. He said that after the speed limit is raised, enforcement against drivers who exceed the new speed will be stepped up.