Legislation8/31/2026

Proposal to Hold Delivery Services Liable for Road Accidents

Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Meital Lehavi has drafted a legislative proposal concerning delivery platforms’ liability for damage caused by couriers in road accidents. At this stage, it is only a proposal intended to be advanced in the next Knesset and is not a law in force.

Key facts

•Initiator of the proposal: Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Meital Lehavi
•Status: The legislative proposal has not yet entered into force
•The proposal is intended to be advanced in the next Knesset
•Source updated: August 31, 2026
•Insurance for couriers and quarterly reports are stipulated

What Liability Would the Platforms Bear Under the Proposal?

The proposal expands the liability of platforms, including Wolt and Ten Bis, for bodily injury and property damage suffered by third parties when the damage is connected to working conditions controlled by the platform. Examples include unrealistic delivery deadlines and navigation technologies that suggest dangerous routes. The initiative is based on the principle that whoever controls the risk must take measures to reduce it.

Why Was the Initiative Necessary?

Most couriers are considered independent contractors rather than platform employees, limiting the companies’ liability for their driving and safety. According to Lehavi, lawsuits against delivery services have been dismissed because there was no employment relationship between the company and the courier. Nevertheless, the platforms assign tasks through algorithms, set schedules, provide incentives for speed, and impose penalties for delays.

Oversight, Data, and Insurance

The proposal would require platforms to train couriers and oversee road safety, as well as collect and retain information on speed, journey duration, signs of fatigue, routes, and violations. It proposes prohibiting the penalization of couriers through time-based metrics, requiring them to carry insurance, and publishing an anonymized quarterly safety report on safety, risks, and dangerous locations in the city.

Identification and Penalties

Couriers would have to be issued identifying vests and identification numbers. Municipal inspectors would be able to request identification details, and in the event of violations, the proposal calls for fines to be imposed on platforms or for their municipal operating permits to be suspended or revoked. The proposal also provides for the possibility of holding managers personally liable.

What this means for you

At present, the initiative does not create new rights or obligations for couriers, platforms, pedestrians, or other road users. If the proposal is adopted, it may become easier for injured parties to raise the issue of platform liability when an accident is linked to schedules, routes, or the incentive system it established. The precise regulation of liability and penalties will depend on the final wording of the law.

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