Israeli Police Reinstate Speeding Fines Amid Flawed Enforcement System and Rising Road Fatalities

Since the beginning of 2026, 269 people have died on Israeli roads, marking an official 5% decrease compared to previous years. However, excluding March, when fatalities dropped nearly 50% due to reduced traffic from the war keeping Israelis in bomb shelters, the death toll actually rose by 12%. Despite a special budget allocated last year to the National Road Safety Authority (RelaBAD) for increased enforcement, including new patrol vehicles and more police presence, enforcement alone has not reduced accidents.

One major issue is the delayed deployment of a new average-speed camera system intended to replace the outdated A3 cameras used since 2011. These A3 cameras, which measure speed based on the time a vehicle takes to pass between two metal loops embedded in the road, have faced reliability challenges and legal scrutiny, leading police to limit their use. High-speed violation tickets (31 km/h or more over the limit) are often dismissed due to statute of limitations, while lower-level violations continue to be fined.

Recently, the Traffic Department announced it would lower the speed violation thresholds triggering camera fines, reversing a decade-long trend of leniency for minor speeding. This change coincides with the second phase of a traffic offense reform that replaced court hearings with online appeals, removing drivers’ ability to summon officers for questioning. Initiated by former Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar and continued by current Minister Yariv Levin, the reform aims to reduce court burdens but makes contesting fines more difficult.

Experts emphasize focusing on obeying speed limits at intersections, where the strictest enforcement applies due to the high risk of severe accidents. Most A3 cameras are marked on the Waze app, which drivers are advised to use. Critics note that while police emphasize speeding as a major danger, professional assessments rank cellphone use, red-light running, and lane deviation as more lethal risks. Despite investing hundreds of millions of shekels in the A3 system without reducing fatalities, Israeli police have yet to adopt automated enforcement against cellphone use, unlike other countries.

As a result, speeding fines are expected to rise, increasing costs for drivers while police contribute to the cost of living crisis. The article calls for a broader approach to road safety beyond enforcement, including better driver education and safer road infrastructure.