"We managed to save some 30 lives this year compared to last year," Mofaz said, "but we have to do better."
Among the contributory factors to the relatively low rate in 2006 was the summer war in Lebanon. Only 23 people were killed on the roads in August, while in March, 34 people were killed.
Police statistics from May 2005 show that while Israeli-Arabs hold 13% of Israel's drivers' licenses, they are involved in 21% of the fatal traffic accidents in the country.
25-year-old Christian-Arab from Haifa, Motlik Salim, became the new year's first casualty early this morning when he crashed into a pole.
The Transportation Ministry issued several regulations this year in an attempt to increase road safety. Among them are these:
2006 was a better year for firemen as well. While in 2005, 30 people were killed in fires in Israel, this number dropped to 22 in 2006. However, 14 of the year's 20 fatal fires occurred in the last three months of 2006.
Among the contributory factors to the relatively low rate in 2006 was the summer war in Lebanon. Only 23 people were killed on the roads in August, while in March, 34 people were killed.
Police statistics from May 2005 show that while Israeli-Arabs hold 13% of Israel's drivers' licenses, they are involved in 21% of the fatal traffic accidents in the country.
25-year-old Christian-Arab from Haifa, Motlik Salim, became the new year's first casualty early this morning when he crashed into a pole.
The Transportation Ministry issued several regulations this year in an attempt to increase road safety. Among them are these:
- New drivers must be accompanied by an experienced driver for the first three months, and not two.
- Drivers must have eye examinations every ten years.
- Police may confiscate a car on the spot for 30-60 days if its driver perpetrated a severe offense.
- Little children may not be transported on motorcycles or the like.
2006 was a better year for firemen as well. While in 2005, 30 people were killed in fires in Israel, this number dropped to 22 in 2006. However, 14 of the year's 20 fatal fires occurred in the last three months of 2006.