Road Signs in Israel
Its a wonder who actually plans where to position road direction signs on Israel's roads. One would be inclined to believe that directions are designed for drivers unfamiliar with the route they are travelling, like tourists, or residents from other parts of Israel, or people just plain forgetful at remembering routes. In other counties, as you drive along, signs prepare you for what's ahead. Well before the turnoff there are clear instructions, often repeated several times, describing what you will need to do. In Israel there is a different strategy, designed by those, that so clearly have spent much time deep in study and planning. Its a strategy so cryptic, that often, it would be easier winning the national lottery than finding your destination. Signs are often placed on major roads, exactly at the junction that you need to turn off, sometimes so small or hidden by trees or other obstacles that you would probably need to send in an elite search unit from the I.D.F armed with experts from the local municipality, and a team of the highest ranking road direction planners to discover where the supposed road sign actually was placed. Sometimes, signs are placed about 50 meters after the proposed turn off. I have seen that myself in Jerusalem. For the past two years I have seen the same problem at that particular junction uncorrected. That means that you can be sure that our roads are maintained by those that really make a giant effort to achieve better standards. In Rishon le Zion I was travelling home one evening, when I came to a big junction that was suddenly closed off due to road works. A diversion sign pointed right, and that was the only sign. Due to the reality that if one turned right and continued in that direction, they would enter a "no through road" , for those that knew the area they took an immediate right again after the diversion and disappeared into the Rishon night, but for those less familiar with the back roads, like most of the drivers, we drove into what I can only describe as the most chaotic traffic jam I have ever been in.
I thought about complaining to government officials, unfortunately they seem so very knowledgeable about the roads or they have personal drivers experienced in directions, that they probably wouldn't care about others that suffer from this madness, then I thought that maybe the minister of transport or tourism would be interested, but they rotate so often or have other more major problems to deal with, that I would probably be wasting my time. So I suppose I will just have to come to terms with the fact, that when I approach an unfamiliar junction and I'm not sure if I need to turn left or right, I should just ignore the abusive horn blowing and bad language, try to prevent an accident, and smile inwardly knowing that I am probably the only sane person in a very strange and unforgiving environment.