The Transportation Minister presented a proposal to the
Knesset Economics Committee last week for a new method for the
accrual of penalty points against traffic violators as an
additional attempt to fight traffic accidents. The new method
is particularity harsh with repeated offenders.
Drivers will no longer be able to erase accrued penalty points
upon completion of a driving course, as has been the case
until now. Problem drivers often continued their history of
serious traffic violations with a clean record that did not
disclose their pattern.
A driver accruing 20 points over a period of two years will
not be able to erase them by taking a driving course. The
period for amassing points will be extended by two additional
years, in order to improve the follow-up of delinquent
drivers. If it reaches 36 points during that period, such
driver's license will be completely revoked. If the driver
wishes to regain his license, he will have to undergo the
entire licensing procedure, including a medical exam, a
written theory test and a driving test.
Licenses of professional drivers will be revoked upon accrual
of 28 penalty points if they perpetrate two serious traffic
violations as defined by the new system.
If a license has been revoked twice and upon re-licensing the
driver accrues 36 or more points, such license will be revoked
for a minimum of three years. It may be renewed only after the
driver undergoes a medical exam at the Institute for Road
Safety and a written theory and driving test.
New systems for courses and follow-ups will be implemented.
Three different types of courses will be given instead of the
one currently given: a basic course for all drivers, and two
courses to correspond to various types of violations. Traffic
violations will now be classified into five categories,
instead of the current three.
Two points will be given for turning without signaling,
unaligned headlights, or driving on a traffic island. Four
points: speeding (up to 25 kph over the speed limit), driving
in the left lane, passing on the right, or seating a child in
the front seat. Six points for driving in places where
entrance is forbidden, driving through a yellow light,
crossing a white line, failure to maintain proper distance
between cars, leaving the site of an accident, or failure to
obey traffic officers.
Eight points are accrued for excessive speeding (25-40 kph
over the speed limit), failure of a new driver to be
accompanied by an escort, the failure to stop at a train
barrier, performing dangerous U-turns, or passing a car
stopped at a junction. Ten points for the 18 most serious
violations -- those that cause most traffic accidents:
exorbitant speeding (more than 40 kph beyond the speed limit),
failure to stop at a red light, passing on a white line,
failure to give pedestrians the right of way, drunken driving,
driving when one's license has been revoked and others.
Twelve new points will require participation in a basic driver
education course.
Rates for violation fines will be changed to include 5 levels
only, instead of the 15 that were in effect until now, and
will range from NIS 100-1000.
An amendment for the Transportation Order that has been
accepted by the Economics Committee determines that a traffic
violator found guilty in court more than once for a serious
violation will not be allowed to drive a car for 60 days, in
addition to any other penalties.
