Lack of Road Signage Cause of Many Accidents, MOPT Admits
Bad or lack of road signs is being blamed for the death of American Rebecca Hall, following a traffic accident on the Interamerican highway as it meets the Costanera near Barranca in Puntarenas.

The accident last Saturday is the latest accident that is due to lack of or proper road signs on the 2.278 kilometres of road that drivers use every day, according to a study by the Departamento de Señalización de Ingeniería de Tránsito, del Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT).

The study says that the 2.278 kilometres have been without proper signage for two years. The Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (CONAVI) has recently begun a program of road signalization that will cost ¢6.5 million dollars.

Jessica Ruiz, an official at CONAVI, assures that this year (2006) they will erect signs on at least 785 kilometres (34%) of the 2.278 kilometres of road, focusing on the roads: Bernardo Soto, San Ramón - Peñas Blancas, Florecion del Castillo, La Lima - Paso Caonos, Próspero Fernández, Santa Elena - Río Sucio and Río Sucio in Limón.

The rest of the 1.493 kilometres will get signs in 2007 and between 2008 and 2010, CONAVI is committed to give the same attention to every road.

Edgar Vargas, head of Señalización de Ingeniería de Tránsito, explained that sign maintenance should be every six months on roads that have more than 25.000 vehicles daily, though due to lack of financial resources, the work has been carried out every two years.

Vargas added that Route 32, the road that connects Limón to San José needs urgent attention and need more frequent maintenance due to the varying climatic conditions, especially in the mountainous areas. Route 1, which travels from Alajueal (west of San José) to Peñas Blancas (to the north at the Nicaraguan border), is another major road that lacks proper signage.

Due to the lack of money by the Administración to erect and maintain proper signage on the roads, drivers as well as pedestrians, risk their lives on a daily basis. SOme roads have become extremely dangerous.

Huanelge Gutiérrez, subdirector of the Policía de Tránsito, urges drivers take more precautions due to the lack of signs. Guttiérrez says that his officials take into account the road conditions but many accidents are caused by drivers being irresponsible on the roads.