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Safety Rules
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| Rules for safe driving |
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Thousands of new cars are put on the road every month. Crowding on the roads is increasing,
and we must do all we can to avoid an increase in the number of accidents.
Most traffic accidents could be prevented if drivers were more aware of, and paid more attention to,
their vehicles’ state of repair, and the road and traffic conditions. Following these guidelines will
reduce the chances of being involved in an accident.
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| Tires |
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Tires constitute a vehicle’s point of contact with the road. Some traffic accidents are caused by
tire failure.
The state of the tires directly affects the driver’s control of his vehicle. Proper handling and
upkeep of tires will increase a vehicle’s safety.
Take care that the air pressure conforms to the manufacturers instructions. Check the air pressure
at least once every two weeks, and before every long trip. It is best to check the air pressure at
the beginning of the journey, when the tires are relatively cool.
It is recommended to buy an air pressure gauge (they are inexpensive), and use it regularly for
measuring the air pressure once a week. Air pressure gauges at filling stations are not always accurate.
Measurements for inflation pressure usually appear at the edge of the car door on the driver’s side,
on the cover of the gas tank, and in the vehicle instruction manual.
Air pressure is crucial for a tire’s ability to grip the road. If the air pressure is too high or too
low, the driver can lose control of the car. Furthermore, driving with unsuitable air pressure is
liable to damage the tires. Insufficient air pressure can cause the tire to burst while driving.
Make sure that the tire tread is deep enough (at least two millimeters), even in the summer.
The tread helps drain the water from between the tire and the road, and prevents loss of grip.
Swelling or deep cuts in a tire are liable to cause it to burst, and cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
Check the tires’ state of repair frequently, including the spare tire.
Click here for a comprehensive article about tires.
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| Brakes |
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Make sure the braking system is in good repair, in order to ensure effective braking.
Consult an authorized garage in any of the following cases:
- If the brake pedal is too low, and/or the vehicle veers off course during braking, and/or the brakes require more fluid, and/or the warning light for the braking system lights up;
- If you feel tremors in the steering wheel or the brake pedal, when braking at high speeds;
- If the antilock braking system (ABS) light lights up;
- If the brake pedal is spongy.
Note: In a car with an ABS system, when braking sharply or on a wet road, a strong tremor will be felt
in the brake pedal, and you may hear a rattling from the engine compartment. The tremor and noise
are due to proper functioning of the system, not a malfunction. You should continue applying strong
pressure on the brake pedal for as long as braking is needed.
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| Observing traffic rules |
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- Keep a distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Keeping a distance is one of the simplest and most effective actions in driving.
Nevertheless, 9% of all accidents in recent years were caused by a failure to keep a
distance between vehicles.
- In order to see and be seen, keep your windows and mirrors clean.
Keep your windshield wipers, front headlights, signal lighting system, and rear lights in
good repair.
- Do not drive a car unless you are sure that it is in good repair.
- Use seatbelts.
- Make sure that passengers in the back seat are also buckled up.
- Observe the legal speed limit, and drive according to road conditions
(faulty road, limited visibility, etc.).
- Obey traffic signs (stop, yield the right of way, etc.)
and road markings (white lines, stop instructions, etc.).
- Do not drive after drinking alcoholic beverages, including beer.
- Avoid sudden stopping and sharp turns.
- Look in all directions, and make sure that the way is clear before passing (overtaking).
Do not drive closely to a vehicle that you are passing. Being too close limits your field
of vision, and prevents you from returning to the right lane, if necessary.
Remember to slow down when nearing an intersection or a pedestrian crossing.
- Pedestrians in a pedestrian crossing have the right of way.
It is difficult to anticipate pedestrian behavior, especially that of children and senior
citizens. Take this into account when driving in a built-up area.
- Drive close to the yellow line.
It is important to drive on the right side of the road, as close as possible to the
yellow line, on any journey, and on any road, whether urban or interurban, narrow or wide,
one-way or two-way.
When rain, fog, or haze impairs visibility, it is essential to drive as close as possible
to the yellow line. If there is no yellow line, drive close to the right edge of the road.
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When there are two lanes in the same direction, do not drive in the left lane unnecessarily;
it is illegal, and may cost you a NIS 250 fine. It also hampers the flow of traffic.
Use the left lane only for passing, or for driving faster than the vehicles in the right lane.
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| Stopping for rest and freshening up |
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Statistics show that we are more tired in the summer, late at night, and in the afternoon.
(Male drivers over 40 years old, in are particular, are prone to falling asleep in the afternoon.)
Lack of sleep at night before driving, and disturbed sleep (interrupted by waking, stress, etc.),
are the number one cause of fatigue in driving.
Driving for long uninterrupted periods is tiring and dangerous.
Hot dry weather, hunger, thirst, alcohol, etc. also interfere with driving.
The following are signs of dangerous fatigue: difficulty in keeping to a straight line when driving,
eyes closing, leaning the head on the headrest, yawning, and avoiding looking in the mirrors,
even when necessary. Each of these signs indicates a need to stop for a rest and freshening up.
How to stop for a rest and freshening up
Unfortunately, accidents also occur on the side of the road, and some are fatal.
Stopping for rest and relaxation must therefore be done wisely.
- Stopping at filling stations, rest and relaxation points, parking lots, and any other protected
place is preferable.
- If this is impossible, stop as far away as possible from the edge of the road and the yellow line.
Do not exit from the left side of the car, nearest the road. Take care to make the vehicle visible
from a distance by using the flashing emergency lights and the warning triangle.
- Do not stop after a bend; passing vehicles are liable to skid off the edge of the road.
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| Professional driving |
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After four hours of driving, including care of the vehicle and/or the load it is carrying,
the driver should stop, and spend half an hour outside the vehicle. On a trip of over eight hours,
it is mandatory to stop for at least one full hour during the second half of the working day.
A driver should rest at least seven hours between two working days.
In any case, a driver should never drive for more than 12 out of 24 hours.
A driver who breaks this law is subject to the legally stipulated punishment.
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| New and old traffic regulations |
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| Mobile telephones |
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Driving a vehicle requires the driver’s full attention – driving is a full-time job.
Do not deal with other matters while driving, such as leafing through papers,
reading newspaper headlines, or talking on the telephone.
Nevertheless, the law does not forbid talking on a wireless telephone while driving,
provided that a microphone (hands-free kit) is installed in the vehicle,
so that the driver can keep both hands on the wheel while talking.
A driver who talks on a handheld cellular telephone is subject to a NIS 500 fine – the price of
a hands-free kit. Although talking on a wireless telephone through a microphone is not illegal,
it is dangerous; the driver’s attention is frequently focused on his conversation,
instead of on the road, which creates unnecessary safety risks for the driver,
the passengers in the vehicle, and all the nearby vehicles and pedestrians.
If you must talk on the phone while driving, be extremely brief.
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| Drivers without documents get into trouble |
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The law requires drivers to carry their vehicle license (car registration papers),
driving license, and insurance document at all times. Failure to carry these documents
subjects the driver to a NIS 100 fine. Up until a few years ago, the fine was NIS 105 for
each absent document – NIS 315 for all three. The fine was changed, however,
and currently stands at NIS 105, even if the driver lacks all three documents.
A policeman who encounters a driver without his licenses checks the matter with the Traffic Department,
and takes the appropriate action. If everything is in order, and the driver has simply forgotten
his documents at home, the fine is NIS 105. If the driver is illegal, or either the insurance or
license for his vehicle has expired, he is liable to receive a court summons.
On the other hand, if your vehicle belongs to a corporation that has a traffic safety officer,
the law allows you to travel in a vehicle, even without the original vehicle license and insurance
papers, provided that a clear photocopy of these documents, signed by the traffic safety officer,
and which confirms that the originals are in his possession, is present in the vehicle.
If the policeman stops you, even if only for a check, he is entitled to require you to present
the original documents within the stipulated time.
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| Being a nice guy is no longer enough for transporting groups of children |
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On January 1, 1996, a regulation went into effect, requiring every driver wishing to transport
groups of children to undergo special training. This training stresses the children’s safety,
and the difficulties liable to arise in transporting them. The training course is a prerequisite
for obtaining a permit to transport groups of children. Strong nerves and composure
are two more requirements for success in this job.
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| Turning on your lights: who, when, how, how much, where, and why |
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The law currently requires buses, taxis, motorcycles, and trucks of 15 tons or more to turn
on their headlights and rear lights on any trip between November 1 and March 31 of the following year.
In addition, vehicles of any type during this period must be driven with their headlights and rear
lights on during all non-urban trips.
Motorcycles were recently required to turn on their low-beam – (non-dazzling) headlights.
Do not drive with only parking lights on during a non-urban trip, even during the day.
This regulation applies to all types of motorcycles.
It is best to turn on lights on any trip, on any road, regardless of the law. This is particularly
important in winter, in shade or fog, while passing, on a two-way road, on a narrow road, and
when driving with the sun at your back.
Fog lights are designed solely for conditions of fog and poor visibility. They should not be used
in good weather, because they are liable to dazzle. This applies to the fog lights on both the rear
and the front of the vehicle; not all vehicles have front fog lights. Driving with the fog lights
on in good weather not only causes inconvenience to the driver, it can also cost the driver a NIS 250
fine.
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