Real Danger

A young woman lies in a medically induced coma following surgery.

Last week she was injured by a speeding car, hit and thrown so hard her aorta was ruptured.

She is not a famous professor, so as long as she lives… it is not ‘news’.

Driving in Jerusalem

is not easy.

 

Car accidents are daily occurrences, drivers trading information at a “fender bender” is a common sight.

Even in well-marked cross walks, danger lurks every time one tries to cross a street,

 many cars do not stop for pedestrians.

This driver sped through too fast to take a good photograph.

The traffic situation in Jerusalem is a serious problem.

Student crossing guards are on duty during the time children come and go from school.

 

The sign at this corner had to be replaced, as it was hit so many times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illegal parking often creates an obstacle for pedestrians.

 The  speed limit is posted on Chaim Hazaz Boulevard, but when traffic is light

 many cars slow down only after they see their excessive speeds displayed.

These new bollards are already smashed–it takes a lot of force to cause this much damage.

And soon the traffic situation in the city center is going to get much worse.

Many bus routes go through the city center on Jaffa Street.

For trial runs of the the light rail system, Jaffa Street is to be closed to bus traffic.

Those large buses and thousands of passengers will be diverted to adjacent streets,

such as Hanevim Street, recently the scene of a deadly accident.

As the UN Global Plan for Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020 begins,

we could benefit from improved road safety.

 Meanwhile, it seems all we can do is be careful out there

and pray for Royza Mindel Bas Rochel

who met with the real danger of the Jerusalem streets.