Hello,
 
At the beginning of 2008, Or Yarok finds itself at the threshold of a new era. The association is closing a decade of intensive activity and has recorded a significant number of achievements in the field of road safety. At the same time, the number of people killed and injured in accidents poses tremendous challenges to the association that are greater than before and that something that the association is preparing to cope with this throughout the year.

The goal Or Yarok set for itself with its foundation still remains: reducing the number of casualties, particularly reducing the number of mortalities, in traffic accidents in Israel.
 
In order to achieve its goal, Or Yarok reformulated its vision, in the spirit of "Vision Zero" that has been adopted by many developed nations around the world. Or Yarok places the protection of human life as a supreme value, and is obligated to working for the inclusion of Israel among the group of nations that is spearheading road safety. The association is also working to create a safe society and to represent the public interest in the field. 
 
Or Yarok activities will expand this year into new areas. In addition to the projects that it is currently carrying out, including "Or Yarok le Chaim" for young drivers, " Mitnadvim be Tnuah" with the Israel police, etc., the association will act in the areas of public supervision, legislation and policy on road safety, will emphasize the subject of research through cooperation with the leading academic institutions in the country, and will work to actively incorporate the public in the struggle against traffic accidents.
 
In the three areas of responsibility: national, community and personal, there is something for each and every one of us to do. Be it joining the effort to convince the government to implement a national safety policy, or volunteering for community activity in the Or Yarok club framework or volunteering with the police's traffic units, or on the personal plain, by moderating driving and adopting civilized, considerate behavior on the roads.

We can make Israel a leading country in road safety. Let's take the first step in the right direction in 2008.

Shmuel Aboav
CEO
     

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Shmuel Aboav began serving as CEO of the Or Yarok association in October 2007. At the end of 25 years of service in the public administration and two terms as Director General of government ministries (Ministry of Construction and Housing and Ministry of Education), Shmuel Aboav (49) moved to the Avi Naor Group.

Alongside his position as CEO of Or Yarok, Aboav is a member of the Board of Directors of the following organizations:

*Ran Naor Fund – a fund that supports road safety research and awards research grants to researchers and scholarships to students.

*Oran Fund – a fund that supports educational activity among children and teens at risk.
* Research Center named after Ran Naor at the Technion – a research center on road safety in collaboration with Or Yarok and the Technion.

*A study program in law and road safety at Tel-Aviv University.

When he was only 28 years old, Shmuel Aboav was elected for the first time for the position of head of the Kiryat Tivon Local Council and was elected for an additional 3 terms in this position, serving a total of 16 years.

Aboav has a BA in Social Sciences and Humanities from the Oranim Academic College and a Masters Degree in  Local Government Administration from Haifa University.