A potentially deadly highway incident ended safely thanks to the quick thinking of an Israeli police dispatcher and a traffic volunteer who guided a terrified driver through stopping her vehicle after its brakes failed during high-speed travel. The critical phone call, released Monday by Israel Police, documents moments of terror alongside professional crisis management that prevented a serious traffic accident.
A driver traveling on a road in southern Israel realized her brakes had stopped working and frantically contacted the emergency hotline. "I just ran a red light, they almost hit me. It's going slow, but it's still moving," the panicked driver told the dispatcher. The Southern District dispatcher immediately worked to calm her: "Okay, first of all, calm down, both hands on the wheel. Just a second, I'm bringing a traffic expert onto the line. Please don't hang up."
A traffic expert and volunteer from the Traffic Division joined the call and began providing precise instructions for slowing the vehicle: "Press the handbrake button and lift the handle slowly. Slowly, slowly, good. Everything will be okay. Lift a bit more, pull harder. Not all at once, and keep your finger pressing the button the whole time." The frightened driver described the situation from inside the car: "It's slowing down. It's still not stopping though, it's still not stopping."
As the vehicle continued approaching intersections, the expert continued directing her firmly: "Keep pulling the handle harder, so the car stops before the traffic light." The driver, recognizing the continuing danger ahead, cried out in alarm: "Red lights, oh my G-d!" but continued following instructions and pulling the vehicle's handle: "Pulling the handle harder so the car stops before the light."
Moments later, thanks to the precise actions and composure at the dispatch center, the awaited moment arrived. The traffic expert encouraged her: "Did the car stop? Great. Put it in park, keep the wheel turned, leave the hazard lights on, breathe, make sure you can exit the car safely. Get out carefully, and dispatch will send a patrol car to you." The driver, breathing with relief, updated the dispatchers: "It stopped, yes it stopped, thank G-d," and shortly after exited the vehicle safely while the dispatch center arranged for a police patrol to arrive at the scene.
