Jerusalem’s weekend ended in tragedy: a 12-year-old boy was killed in a serious car accident inside the Naomi Shemer Tunnel, a 15-year-old girl was moderately injured, and two others suffered minor injuries. MDA paramedics fought to save the boy’s life, but he was pronounced dead at Hadassah Mount Scopus hospital. The shocking accident brought back the urgent question of how drivers should approach this tunnel, which may look like an ordinary stretch of road but conceals unique dangers.
The Highway Illusion in Jerusalem
The Naomi Shemer Tunnel was designed as a key artery linking Jerusalem to Ma’ale Adumim, and it has become one of the city’s busiest passages. To many drivers, the wide lanes and smooth flow give the impression of a familiar intercity highway. Yet this impression is deceptive: within a long and enclosed tunnel, even the smallest shift in visibility, speed, or focus can escalate into a fatal crash. The recent tragedy shows how, in the very heart of Jerusalem, traffic conditions require an entirely different level of caution and awareness.
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Hazardous Driving Conditions Inside the Tunnel
The abrupt transition from daylight to darkness, blinding flashes at entrances and exits, restricted fields of vision, and the tendency to accelerate all turn the tunnel into a potential trap. Added to this are the heavy traffic jams at the eastern exit toward Ma’ale Adumim, sudden braking, and distracted driving with mobile phones. Residents and commuters have long demanded clearer signs, speed cameras, and stronger enforcement. Emergency services like MDA know how every second matters when disaster strikes. The recent fatal crash underlines a simple but crucial truth: a tunnel is not a routine highway. It is a space that demands cautious driving, greater distance, and disciplined behavior from every driver passing through Jerusalem.
