Motorcycle traffic jam
Motorcycle traffic jamFlash 90

Traffic along Israel’s major highways came to a standstill in several places on Sunday morning, when thousands of motorcyclists rode slowly in protest of their raised insurance rates.

The new, higher insurance rates came into effect today, in accordance with Finance Ministry regulations. The cyclists say that ten weeks of “democratic negotiations” have led nowhere, hence today’s traffic jams.

Though the police announced in advance that they were prepared for the protest, they were unable to prevent close to three hours’ worth of massive traffic tie-ups along the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, the Geha Highway, and other major arteries as far as Ashdod and Herzliya. Police did not allow cyclists to enter the Ayalon Highway until 8 AM, and another exit is blocked as of 10 AM.

The protest has led to one major accident, when a car attempted to pass the slow-going cyclists and crashed into one. The 41-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured, and the passing car driver was detained by police.

In some places, the motorcyclists drove with large spaces between them – though not enough for cars to pass – in order to send this message: “If our insurance is raised and we all drive cars instead, this is what highway traffic will look like.”

The insurance rates are up by some 20% in many cases, and compulsory insurance has gone up a blanket 12%. The Finance Ministry announced that safe riders would pay 50% less than those who have had accidents – but the cyclists said that in fact, a tiny percentage of them would have their rates slightly reduced, while the vast majority would pay significantly more than before. They say they will continue protesting unless the old rates are temporarily reinstated while “serious negotiations” will continue.