Know Where You Are When Reporting Danger/Attacks!

It must have had been last year, when I was on a public bus, late at night on my way home from work, and the the bus was stoned by Arab terrorists. As the driver continued driving, the safest thing to do as long as it's mechanically possible, he called in to his people to report the attack. The problem was that he really didn't know the area and couldn't describe where it had happened. In the end he gave me the phone. Remember in today's world of GPS and Waze, fewer people have a clue as to where they are; they just follow instructions/directions.

Yesterday morning before going to work I read an article on Arutz 7 about road markers being put up in Judea Samaria because of just that problem.

The blocks will function much in the same way as 'mile markers' along major US highways: to provide additional information about a motorist's - or potential terror victim's - location.
"The Engineering Division of the Judea and Samaria Division has been working on the 'mile marker' project for several months," Major Michael Biton, officer of the Engineering Division for the Binyamin Regional Brigade, stated Wednesday night.
"The project is aimed at shortening the response time to incidents unfolding in the area by creating a 'common language' between civilians and IDF forces," Biton continued. "During a rock-throwing, shooting attack, or explosion, every resident will be able to most accurately report where the accident happened, thanks to these concrete markers." (Arutz 7)

The aim is for people to notice the closest marker and give that as their location. Besides terrorist attacks this would help if the car suddenly malfunctions and people need help and rescue.

And then yesterday afternoon, on my way home, I was sitting in the front seat of a neighbor's car and saw a series of them on the road.

Ours are labeled with the letter ב (B) for the fact that we are the Benjamin Council/County, Mateh Binyamin, between Jerusalem and Samaria/Shomron.

Most drivers aren't yet aware of the significance and reason for the signs. I discovered that when I had to explain to my neighbor who is generally very well-informed.

Besides the signs, we really need better cellphone reception on the roads. A large portion of the road between Sha'ar Binyamin and Shiloh/Eli etc has no reception at all. So it doesn't help to know your location if you can't report it when stuck. Gd willing that will be taken care of sooner rather than later.

Shabbat Shalom!