Over 250 people injured in Yom Kippur road accidents in 2025, road safety group warns

Over the past decade, approximately 2,472 people were injured in road accidents on Yom Kippur.

A total of 295 people were injured in road accidents during Yom Kippur in 2025, averaging 12 people per hour, according to data from the Green Light road safety organization based on figures from Magen David Adom.

The figure includes people who required medical treatment after accidents involving bicycles, electric bicycles, electric scooters, roller skates, hoverboards, and motor vehicles. An analysis of the figures also found that 2,472 people were injured in similar road accidents on Yom Kippur over the past decade.

Moreover, six people were killed in road accidents on Yom Kippur during the past decade, two of them in 2025 alone.

Among the most notable accidents was the death of 12-year-old Barak Houri, who was struck and killed by a driver while riding his bicycle on Route 4 near Givat Shmuel in 2021. Eight-year-old Itai Margi was struck and killed by a vehicle while riding his bicycle at the intersection of Jabotinsky Street and Namir Road in Tel Aviv in 2019.

Even when traffic on the roads drops to almost zero, the danger does not disappear. Riders can fall on their own, collide with pedestrians or other riders, or encounter emergency vehicles. In some areas, including the South and parts of Jerusalem, there is more driving among the non-Jewish population, meaning there is vehicle traffic on roads that in the past may have been nearly empty.

"Yom Kippur carries many dangers, particularly for riders of two-wheeled vehicles. The atmosphere of the holiday is misleading, and many people tend to think that this is a day that allows for safe riding, when the reality is exactly the opposite," Green Light CEO attorney Yaniv Yaakov said. 

"The Transportation and Road Safety Ministry must raise awareness of the dangers of riding two-wheeled vehicles in general and on Yom Kippur in particular. Bicycle riding can be both enjoyable and safe when awareness of proper riding is instilled in children and teenagers."

Green Light issued a series of safety recommendations ahead of Yom Kippur.

Green Light's road safety recommendations before Yom Kippur

Slow down at intersections: Even after regular traffic has stopped, an ambulance, police car, or another vehicle could still pass through. On Yom Kippur as well, riders should slow down, look to the right and left, and make sure drivers can see them before crossing.

Do not assume the road is empty: Vehicles continue to travel on Yom Kippur, sometimes at higher-than-usual speeds, particularly on intercity roads such as Route 4 in central Israel or fast urban roads such as Begin Road in Jerusalem.

Parents should establish a defined and familiar riding area for their children, away from main roads.

Bicycle maintenance: People who do not ride regularly should check the condition of their bicycles, or their children's bicycles, in advance, including the gears, horn, tires, brakes, lights, and reflectors. Repair wait times at bicycle shops are expected to grow longer through Sunday.

Make sure the bicycle fits the rider: For children, parents should ensure the bicycle fits the child's height so the rider's toes can touch the ground.

Always wear a helmet: Wearing a helmet can make the difference between a minor and a serious injury at any age. Riders should therefore use a helmet that fits properly and is securely fastened.

Riding after dark: Riders should wear light-colored clothing that is visible in the dark and use bicycle lights and reflectors when riding at night.

Protective equipment: Children are advised to wear knee and elbow pads and gloves whenever they ride.

Electric vehicles are not for every age: Under Israeli law, children under the age of 16 are prohibited from riding electric bicycles or electric scooters.

Water: Anyone who is fasting is advised to avoid riding. Do not send children out to ride without water.