I never learned boxing or wrestling, but every morning when I get into my car I become an involuntary participant in the ring.
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For me to safely complete my 300-kilometer (190-mile) commute – from my home in Haifa to my work in Jerusalem and back – I need to not only be incredibly alert but also what Israelis would call being a freier (patsy or pushover).
Yes, I am a proud freier, the kind that wants to return home at the end of the day in one piece.
Many Israelis have this peculiar characteristic, where they will help a senior citizen who is struggling to push his cart at the supermarket, but will also curse at a senior citizen struggling to park his car.
Whoever saw footage of the horrific attack on Ayalon Highway, which landed a driver in the hospital with a fractured skull, noticed that only a fraction of a second later the attacker was already trying to help the victim up.
It's mind-boggling how getting in the car can prompt a person to lose all restraint and lash out at anyone who dares drive a little slower than us or, God forbid, does not start driving the moment the light turns yellow.
In one moment, we go from a nation known for loving kindness and volunteering to one that has three road accidents per day on average.
The same is true of social media, where users allow themselves to express their views and emotions in unimaginable ways. We feel safe behind the screens of our electronic devices as well as our windshields.
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai has recently created a cross-agency team to tackle road accidents. I, the head of the National Road Safety Authority, will also take part in the project.
Such violence has a human toll and studies have shown a direct link between road bullying and accidents. I believe that at the state level, we need to increase policing and enforcement on the roads, as well as harsher punishments and with it, increased deterrence. The government must take these steps with determination.
But thinking that increased law enforcement alone will put an end to the trend would be a mistake. The prosecution of a handful of wrongdoers will only treat the symptoms, not the cause.
As a society, we must also learn patience, tolerance and yes, even a healthy dose of freier-ness. When it comes to driving, it is more important to be wise than to be right, and let me remind you, Israeli drivers: they might call you a pushover, but you are the one who gets home safely at the end of the day.
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