Minister Miri Regev signed new regulations that allow regular taxis to transport students, especially special education students.
This is an amendment to the traffic regulations, intended to adapt the provisions of the law to the operational reality on the ground.
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The regulations will go into effect in the coming days.
Today, local authorities across the country operate thousands of student transportation services using special taxis, with a large portion of the transportation being intended for special education students.
Due to the nature of the special education system and the fact that educational institutions are spread out over large distances, most transportation routes typically only include two or three students, sometimes on long and geographically dispersed trips. Under these conditions, the use of taxis has been found to be more efficient - both economically and in terms of providing a more personalized and focused response to families.
As it stands, traffic regulations set a series of technical requirements for transporting students, which were originally designed for buses and large vehicles, such as the obligation to install signal lights in the rear window of the vehicle or to drop off students only by the driver.
In practice, these requirements do not apply to a taxi, which is a relatively small vehicle, where the driver can closely monitor boarding and alighting from the vehicle and even find suitable parking that reduces the risk to students. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply the same precautions required for larger vehicles.
Accordingly, the new regulations update the definition of "student transportation," so that these requirements will not apply to a regular taxi.
This means providing greater flexibility for operating the transportation system, making it easier for local authorities and parents, and improving service for special education students, while maintaining appropriate safety rules.
The move is the result of professional staff work by the Ministries of Transportation and Education ahead of the start of the school year, and is part of the ministry's policy to improve public transportation service and promote equal opportunities for all Israeli citizens.
Minister of Transportation: "Upon taking office, I instructed my office staff to examine the traffic regulations, and wherever possible to reduce bureaucratic barriers and unnecessary regulations, without compromising safety - to act in the best interest of the citizen. Certainly when it comes to those who need our help the most - special education students.".
""The student transportation system, and that of special education students in particular, is a daily challenge for local authorities and families. The new regulations will allow children to be transported in regular taxis as well, in a way that will provide an efficient, safe, and more accessible solution. The Ministry of Transportation considers equal opportunities and accessibility for every child, everywhere, to be of utmost importance.""
