Road Safety Authority Files Police Complaint Against Wolt and CEO
Israel's National Road Safety Authority has requested a criminal investigation and potential operational suspension for delivery platform Wolt, citing significant gaps in traffic safety compliance.
By Hassan Ellis ·
The National Road Safety Authority has formally petitioned Israeli police to open a criminal investigation into the food delivery platform Wolt and its chief executive, Tomer Cohen. The complaint, filed by NRSA Council Chairman Moti Edrei, alleges that the company and its leadership have engaged in ongoing violations of traffic regulations. Edrei submitted the letter to Assistant-Chief Haim Shmueli, head of the Israel Police Traffic Division, urging immediate enforcement actions. These measures include the possibility of securing a court order to suspend Wolt's operations due to the severity of the alleged offenses.
The authority bases its claim on Regulation 579 of Israel's Traffic Regulations, which defines an enterprise as a business operating at least 40 vehicles of specified categories, such as motorcycles and private cars. Wolt reported that approximately 20,000 couriers operate through its platform. Additionally, the NRSA holds registration numbers for roughly 214 motorcycles and scooters involved in reported safety incidents. This number exceeds the regulatory threshold by more than five times. Consequently, the NRSA argues that Wolt is legally required to appoint a dedicated traffic safety officer, an obligation the company has allegedly neglected.
Regulation 580(a) also places personal responsibility on the company's CEO for such failures. Edrei contends that Cohen was aware of this legal requirement but failed to take corrective action. Wolt disputes this interpretation, maintaining that its couriers are independent contractors rather than employees. The company argues this status exempts it from the requirement to appoint a traffic safety officer to oversee their activities. Despite this, Wolt states it addresses every complaint regarding couriers' riding behavior and accident involvement, though it has not disclosed how many couriers have been removed from the platform following such reports.
In September, the NRSA contacted Cohen to demand the appointment of a safety officer and the creation of a binding action plan to reduce operational risks. The authority claims the company's response was insufficient, as Wolt expressed only a future willingness to develop measures without providing deadlines, measurable targets, or monitoring mechanisms. The NRSA alleges that the promised plan has not been submitted and that no safety officer has been appointed to date.
The complaint calls for police to investigate Wolt and its CEO for suspected violations and to immediately prevent couriers who do not meet legal requirements from working. It also urges increased targeted enforcement against life-threatening traffic violations involving the platform's workers. Supporting materials submitted to the police include emergency hotline reports, vehicle registration data, findings from enforcement operations, and public complaints compiled by the Tel Aviv Municipality. Copies of the letter were also sent to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Police Commissioner Daniel Levy, and local authorities' chairman Haim Bibas.
This legal action follows years of warnings from the NRSA regarding safety risks associated with delivery couriers. In 2021, NRSA deputy director-general Nehama Laor Drori noted that 80 people had been injured in courier-related accidents over the preceding three years. She reported that the number of such accidents more than doubled from 10 in 2020 to 24 in 2021. Laor Drori stated that it was unacceptable for financial motivation to drive couriers to endanger their own lives and those of others.
The NRSA's decision to file a police complaint highlights the limitations of its independent enforcement powers, as it relies on the police and the Transportation Ministry to implement its advocated measures. Previous reporting indicated that police had reduced enforcement against electric bicycle riders, a mode of transport widely used by Wolt couriers.
Wolt responded to the complaint by accusing the NRSA of launching a publicity campaign to rehabilitate its own image. The company stated that it invests significant resources in improving road safety and had presented a detailed plan to the authority. Wolt also claimed it had requested a meeting with NRSA representatives to advance safety measures, a request it said had gone unanswered. The company expressed surprise that the authority directed resources against those working toward the same goal rather than focusing on practical solutions.
