When we say 'the bereaved family', we mean the families of those who were killed in Israel's wars and terrorist attacks.
These families receive a warm embrace from the public and state authorities. They also receive financial assistance, so that they can cope with the material difficulties caused by the disaster that befell them.
But alongside them, unfortunately, lives a larger bereaved family. This family has lost more than 32,600 people since the founding of the state.
In the last calendar year alone, 357 people were killed in traffic accidents. Almost every day, this carnage struck another home in Israel.
And we got used to it.
We hear the dry report of another accident, more deaths, more injuries, as if this is the custom of the world.
Not because of the policeman.
As these lines are being written, the causes of the horrific accident on Highway One earlier this week are still being investigated.But the thing that should shake us all up is not this particular accident, but the general state of carnage on the roads.
It is impossible to accept this terrible bloodshed, and it is our duty to do everything to dramatically reduce the accident rate.
There are things that state authorities need to do, such as improving road infrastructure and raising the level of vehicle safety, but the human factor is still dominant among the causes of accidents, and it is in our hands.
A general change in attitude towards traffic laws and road safety rules is required.
Sometimes we think of traffic laws as a kind of cumbersome government bureaucracy. Many feel that the need to obey traffic laws stems from the fear of being caught by a police officer.
It is worth remembering that these laws were written in blood. They did not exist when the first cars appeared. They were created after humans took control of their lives, and when the deadly force of accidents became apparent.
One can argue here and there about the degree of justice and effectiveness of certain traffic restrictions, but traffic laws – most of them – came into being as a result of lessons learned from fatal accidents.
There is no doubt that if we were all more careful about the rules of caution on the roads, there would be many more people walking among us whose lives were cut short by accidents.
Indeed, it is very tempting to read a text message that arrives while driving, and then feel a seemingly uncontrollable need to reply to it, but do we think about the risk involved – to ourselves, to the passengers in our vehicle, and to other vehicles on the road?
Think about how a driver feels who caused a fatal car accident and saved a young life just because of a distraction caused by being busy on the phone. What terrible pangs of conscience will accompany him from now on for the rest of his life. Is it worth it?
Empty vanity
Disregard for traffic laws is neither brave nor wise. It is a wild gamble on human life.
The question is not whether there is a police officer or a camera nearby, but rather the sheer irresponsibility involved in reckless and life-threatening behavior on the road. It is empty arrogance, which could end in many tears and the destruction of entire lives.
This consciousness must be instilled by all means – education, sermons in synagogues, writing in newspapers, rallies and conventions.
Alongside the spiritual actions that we must all take in the wake of this great disaster - prayers and strengthening ourselves in Torah and good deeds - we are all also required to act in natural ways to stop this terrible carnage and save lives, literally.
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