Coming2Israel.com - Driving In Israel.

On This Page:

• Start with some basics regarding a driving license and seat-belts. • Some differences about driving in Israel. • Marked lanes and lane changing. • About Israeli Traffic lights. • Watch out for the scooters, motorcycles and electric bikes. • Taxis ‘fishing’ for their next ride. • U-Turns and right-hand turns at stoplights. • Round-abouts traffic circles. • Speed Traps, Radar and Spot Checks. • About Driving in the bigger cities. • Some last bits of advise. Scroll down to read all of the information.

Some Basics

First things first.  We know we don’t have to tell you about driving with a current, valid drivers license.  In case you’re not sure, do! And, for sure, we know that we don’t have to tell about driving while under the influence. In case you’re not sure, don’t!  No one wants to spend a night or more in a foreign jail while on a vacation or business trip.  And we have enough problems in our little country that we don’t need anyone to add any more injuries or fatalities caused by someone coming to Israel for business or pleasure.  So, please, have a great time, but please, please, please, do so responsibly.  ‘nuff said. Secondly, Seat-belts MUST be worn by ALL occupants in a vehicle.  If someone is not, and you are pulled over, it is the driver that gets the ticket.  Children, and babies must be securely strapped in approved car seats or booster seats that are appropriate for their age/weight.  And said seats must be properly secured to the car in the manner for which they were designed to be.  If you are renting a car, most agencies do have seats available for rent as well. Do we really need to tell you this? Thirdly, in no way do we present this information as a comprehensive drivers guide to driving in Israel.  We offer NO legal advise at all. If you are not sure, check with the Israeli government website or your travel agent or car-rental agent for more details.  We offer the information below based mostly on our observations and experiences of driving in Israel. Happy motoring! What the www.goIsrael.com website does say, is here (really, not much):

Just a Few Possible Differences On Driving In Israel...

Driving in the Lane and Lane Changing:

Despite what you may have heard, driving, or should we say the drivers in Israel are not as bad as they once were.  Having said that, there are some things you need to know to help make your driving experience in Israel a little less stressful.  The lane marker dividing lines, can be, for the most part, suggestions or a recommendation to an Israel driver.  Sure, they’re not piloting the Space Shuttle, but an Israel driver has a lot to deal with while they drive their car.  Adjusting the radio, GPS, and/or air-conditioning. Smoking a cigarette, drinking coffee or eating a falafel while reading the paper.  Applying make-up, shaving or trimming their beard.  Feeding the baby, calling their mother, etc.  So, please, forgive them if they stray outside the lines a little bit.  And while we are on the subject, once most Israeli drivers passed their drivers test, somehow, they’ve completely forgotten how to operate the turn signal.  Or, if they have used their turn signal, they have forgotten how to turn it off.  So, to make up for this loss of knowledge, they have adapted a unique method of announcing their intention to change lanes.  They change lanes - sometimes all of them at once.  True, that some are a little nicer about it and give you fair warning.  They will straddle the two lanes for a few hundred meters until they completely move to the lane they wanted to be in.  Or they won’t.  Bottom line - pay attention and give yourself some space for reaction time at all times.  They usually don’t mean any ill-will, it’s just that they have a lot on their minds.

Traffic Lights

The traffic light cycle can be relatively quick in Israel. And unique to visitors from the US or Canada.  In one cycle, the yellow light flashes twice. We’ll explain... Assuming you a sitting at a red light, this is a rough outline of the traffic light cycle in Israeli intersections: Red light - stop. Yellow light AFTER the Red - Make a quick check to see that the way is clear and go. Go now! Green - pay attention, check and go. Yellow light flashing - if you are not in or just about to enter the intersection, you should slow down and prepare to stop.  The light changes to red fairly quickly.   From the moment your light changes to red, the yellow light starts flashing for the cross-street lanes. So do stop when you see the yellow after the green, and even though we told you to go on the yellow after the red, look before you go.  There can be someone from the cross-street that feels they have the time and space to make it through the intersection. As an example, bus drivers seem to feel this way fairly often. If you’re not paying attention when the traffic light goes yellow after the red light, the cars behind you will give you a friendly reminder with a toot of their horn that it is time to continue your journey.  Again, look before you go,

Scooters And Motorcycles

First thing that you need to know us that lane-splitting is legal in Israel. So, do pay attention when changing lanes or even turning a corner.  And most scooter riders simply see the other cars on the road as a rolling obstacle that must be passed.  Again, pay attention.

Taxis Driving

Vacant taxis are usually driving in the right line trolling for their next fare.  And usually at a slower speed than the flow of traffic at that time.  But, keep your eyes open for taxis in the left lanes as well.  If he is vacant and sees someone flagging him down, he will dive across all lanes to catch that fare.  And in order to take in or drop of their fares, they will stop when and where as they see fit.  With your luck, you’ll be stuck behind the taxi dropping off the little old lady digging out and counting her coins to pay for the ride.  What can we tell you?

U-Turns And Turning Right On a Red Traffic Signal

At intersections where there is not a sign showing otherwise, generally, U-turns are allowed to made.  Right turns in Israel on red lights are generally not allowed.  Of course if there is a designated right turn lane WITH its own traffic light and that is green, check for pedestrians and you can turn right.  Regardless of the allowance of a right turn, pay attention for drivers that “did not see” the no U-turn sign coming from the other side of the road.

Round-Abouts (Kikar, Kikarim)

In urban areas, instead of intersections with traffic lights, quite often you will see round-abouts to get through the intersection. In Israel we call them a kikar (pronounced kee-kar.  Or kikarim (kee- kar-eem) for plural).  They generally work like this: the car in the kikar has the right of way.  So, if you are approaching a kikar and there is a car within the kikar, you must yield the right of way to that car.  Again, watch for pedestrians and other cars that feel that they can obtain the right of way before you and proceed through the kikar.  Most kikarim are with a single lane through it.  there are some, marked with divider lines indicating that there are two lanes running through the kikar.  Just be sure that you are in the right lane at the right time for where you want to exit the kikar.

Speed-Traps, Radar, and Spot-Checks.

Overall, we have not seen that many radar gun police officers at the side of the highway clocking the speed of passing cars.  BUT, if the road is a long straight stretch, and you are alone on the road, do watch your speed.  When in traffic, it should be relatively safe to travel with the flow of traffic. What you will see or incur on a more frequent basis, than speed radar are road-side spot-checks.  A few police cars and their respective officers will be set up in high-traffic areas, usually on-ramps or off-ramps to highways, and after intersections on major roads and such.  The officer will stand at the side or near the middle of the most rightward lane point at car and wave it over. For the most part, they checking for seatbelt compliance and valid license, ownership and insurance documents.  So make sure that you wearing your seatbelt and that you have all of the necessary documents with you. Including the rental car agreement.  If all is in order they will usually send you on your way, otherwise, be prepared to receive a fine.  If you are fined, they can be paid at any Israeli post office, but usually in cash.  We recommend that you pay any fine you receive before you leave Israel to return back to your home country.

Automatic Traffic Violation Photo Cameras

Another favorite money grabber in Israel is the red-light intersection camera.  By now, a common site in most countries of the world, cameras are set up in intersections and if you have run a red light, a picture of the license plate of the car will be taken and sent to the registered owner of the car for payment.  However, by the time the ticket is processed you may have already left the country and your rental car agency will get the ticket and charge your credit card.  You should check with them what their exact policy is.  In order to keep your life simple, don’t run red lights and read our section above on traffic lights in Israel. Waze is a great free GPS program that will alert you to some of these locations as you drive through Israel.

Driving in the Bigger Cities in Israel.

Simple: Don’t.  Once you get to your destination, and if at all possible, leave your car where you parked it.  Cities Like Tel Aviv can be a navigational nightmare with all manner of crowded and one- way streets.  You must know that the older cities, especially like south and central Tel Aviv were built when most people could not afford a car.  Thus, there were very few cars on the road.  Now, it seems as though there are more cars then people in Tel Aviv.  Trust us, your time in Israel will be much better spent walking or using public transit or taxis to get where you need to go.  You’ll simply be less stressed and enjoy the experience more.  Besides, paying for parking, assuming you find a parking lot with available space, will cost you almost as much as taking a taxi within the city.  Of course, you must get to the city from wherever you are coming from so pay attention and heed our advise from above.

Other than all of that...

Otherwise, driving in Israel is much like driving in other parts of the western world.  We drive on the right-hand side of the road and sit on the left-hand side of the car.  Destination signs are marked in English as are street signs.  But be aware that the positioning of the street name signs are such that the sign for the street that you are currently driving on is fairly easy to read, but the cross-street or intersecting street name sign in usually not readable until you have passed it.  A GPS is a great tool to have with you while you drive by car. especially one that tells you where to go.  Once you get use to it and even use to driving in Israel, you’ll be a master of the roads in no time.  Again, Waze is a great free GPS for your smart-phone.  

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