So, they're not being nasty in this case, just following a different code of behavior. The way they see it, you're not expecting them to make room, so they should hurry up, take over and then maybe you'll have the lane available once they've passed you. If you want to change lanes, use your signal light (I always do) but don't expect the vehicles in the other lane to make room for you. Not nasty, just more direct and when it comes to the road, some people can be downright rude and aggressive.īe aware that some drivers may be cutting lanes without using the signal lights, and generally pushing their way forward fairly aggressively. Israel has a very informal culture which means people tend to be "flexible" regarding the rules. Doable, but can get a bit hairy.Īnd yes, it's not just crowded, there is the issue of the local mentality and driving culture. I would say driving in most areas in Israel doesn't feel all that different than driving in LA during rush hour. And where traffic is busy, you have to mind the road and stay on the alert. It's rare to find a road that feels empty unless you go to specific desert areas.
Israel is a small country with way too many vehicles. The main thing that makes driving here more challenging is congestion. It's about the same as driving in France or Italy (drawing on my own personal driving experience there). Generally speaking, driving in Israel is more challenging than driving in the US. I'll cover the above rules as well as the additional cultural differences in more depth below, so keep reading for a safe and enjoyable driving experience in Israel! What's driving in Israel like? The rest is very similar but there are some differences in driving culture. If you have a stop sign in a junction, then you give right of way to the road that crosses yours. A dashed/broken line means you can cross it with care if you need to take over.