Speed camera revolution: Police fine even for exceeding the limit by a few km/h
The war on road fatalities: The head of the Traffic Division has decided to update the enforcement threshold for stationary cameras on high-risk roads. Some cameras will implement stricter enforcement, including documenting offenses within a short deviation range from the speed limit. Police: "The goal is not to issue fines, but first and foremost to save lives."
Lowering the "tolerance threshold": The Israel Police Traffic Division published today (Sunday) an announcement regarding the update of enforcement thresholds for speed cameras. As part of adjustments made to A-3 stationary speed cameras, offenses will be recorded according to new definitions set for each area, based on the specific risk level of that location.
The Traffic Division noted that any documented exceeding of the speed limit will result in a fine being sent directly to the driver's home. Some cameras will now implement stricter enforcement, documenting offenses within a short deviation range from the speed limit, while in other locations, the allowed deviation before a fine is issued may be increased. For example, on a high-risk road with a 70 km/h limit, a fine will now be issued for driving at 75 km/h instead of the previous 85 km/h.
The police will not disclose which specific roads will have updated enforcement thresholds. The police noted:
"In the last year, road fatalities have claimed the lives of hundreds of people, in addition to thousands of injured. These alarming data require strict thinking in enforcement and its adaptation to field conditions. In the coming days, another step will be taken to change enforcement thresholds in speed cameras on roads and intersections."
As part of a comprehensive examination of the A-3 speed camera system, the Traffic Division conducted an individual assessment of every camera, analyzing road characteristics, traffic volumes, accident data, and risk factors. Following this review, the head of the Traffic Division, Nitzav Haim Shmueli, decided to update the enforcement thresholds to better reflect actual road conditions.
"This announcement is intended to allow the driving public to prepare in advance, to exercise self-discipline, and to behave on the road responsibly," the police stated. "It is important to emphasize that the goal of enforcement is not to issue fines, but first and foremost to save lives, prevent accidents, and reduce the number of casualties."
Authorities further noted that excessive speed remains one of the primary factors in fatal accidents, as even a small increase in speed significantly extends braking distance and reduces reaction time. Nitzav Shmueli clarified:
"We examined every camera and every road segment in accordance with accident data and risk characteristics. We are informing the public about this move in advance with a clear goal: that drivers will change their behavior even before the cameras document them. The speed limit is not a recommendation; it is the limit set to protect all of our lives. From our perspective, a fine that was not issued because a driver chose to slow down is a success."
