Road safety advocates focus on Arab sector
Or Yarok association meets with leaders from Israel's minority communities in bid to educate youths on accident prevention
“Arab society must instill within itself the value of protecting human life. It can’t be that 20% of the population pays 37% of the entire amount of traffic-related deaths,” said MK Hanna Swaid (Hadash) on Tuesday.
Swaid made these comments during an Or Yarok (literally, green light) conference on road safety in Israel’s Arab community.
The Or Yarok association was founded in 1997 due to recognition of the critical importance of the uncompromising struggle against traffic accidents and the importance of community involvement in the struggle.
“This is an issue of education and this must be a requirement for the Arab public,” said the MK.
“This needs to be done in educational, community and familial frameworks and even in religious ones.
“In addition, the infrastructures must be improved in the Arab settlements. There are examples of places calling to the heavens for help including quite a few large settlements where entrances are very dangerous.”
Science, Culture and Sport Minister Raleb Majadele, who was also present at the conference, said that a joint activity is essential.
‘An ounce of prevention’
“There is a saying in Arabic which says, ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.’ The situation in which we are in, is sad and we are all responsible for it – at home, school and amongst children. This is an acute public problem, because nothing is more costly than human lives.”The Druze spiritual leader in Israel, Sheikh Muafek Tarif added, “According to the religion, endangering life is a severe transgression. We must join hands in a joint effort. We, religious leaders have a commitment to preach on the issue of car accidents and warn about the consequences.”
Difficult statistics about the accidents caused by the non-Jewish sector arose at the Or Yarok conference.
The data reveals a harsh reality: While the Arab population consists of 20% of the entire Israeli population, the percentage of those killed in accidents in this sector is between 35%-37% and the percentage of those critically injured is 41%.
Seventy-eight percent of the children killed in 2007 are from the non-Jewish sector and the pedestrian problem is especially severe.
Out of 13 children ages 0-4 who were killed in Israel last year; 12 were from the non-Jewish sector.
Regarding secure seating, observations revealed that less than 30% of Arab children who died in car accidents, were somehow belted and only 16% of children ages 3-8 were driven in a safety seat in accordance with the law.
An issue of culture
Or Yarok Chairman Avi Naor spoke at the conference on the Arab society’s need to assess itself.
He also attacked the speech given by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at the Knesset that dealt with the continued struggle against road accidents. “His words were hypocritical and double-edged. The government, under his rule, cut NIS 200 million (approximately $53 million) from the National Road Safety Authority.
“Moreover, the non-Jewish public cannot allow itself to outwardly extend the blame. Let’s look within as well. If a four-year-old boy is killed at 10 pm because a truck drove in reverse, it is not a governmental issue, it is a cultural one,” said Naor.
The Shfaram Or Yarok club coordinator added that “it is not rare to see an Arab woman driving with a baby on her lap or with an unbelted child.
“Only explanation, instruction and solving the infrastructure issue will bring a solution to the problem,” he said.
The Or Yarok association plans on working with the Arab public this upcoming year through house calls, activities, lectures and instructions for young drivers, enlisting volunteers and more.
