Drinking And Driving A Continuing Menace
The headlines of this morning's television newscasts were, as usual, filled with reports of traffic accidents. And alcohol, combined with speeding, seems to be the underlying cause in most cases.

Sunday, thanks to the alarm by a number of passengers, the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) detained a bus driver on the San José-Alajuela route, on the autopista General Cañas, when they noticed that he was drunk at the wheel. The routte is serviced by two major bus companies.

The quick response by Tránsito stopped the bus and learned that the driver was six times over the limit following a breathalyzer test.

Only moments later, Tránsito police were at the scene on an accident, again on the General Cañas, when one of the drivers was under the influence. Fortunately there were no fatalities or major injuries in that scene.

Excessive alcohol as also involved in the multiple injury accident in the early hours of Friday morning where a motorists, two two truck operators and a Tránsito officials were hit by a drunk driver while attending the scene of the first accident, also where the driver was drunk. The first drunk driver had to have the lower portion of her left leg amputated from the result of the second accident.

Accidents involving alcohol abuse are the number one cause of fatal accidents, followed by speeding and careless driving.

The Ministerio de Obras Pública y Transports (MOPT) have presented a bill to toughen the traffic laws by increasing fines in the hundreds of dollars, instead of the currents tens of follars, and giving the  Policía de Tránsito more broader powers to confiscate vehicles and licenses when alcohol is involved.

However, there proposal is not travelling through the legislative process at the same speed that drivers are on the highways.

MOPT minister, Karla González, has been very vocal on the subject and along with Transportes vice-minister, Viviana Martín, have promised for more patrols of the highways and tougher action, however, recognize that the battle cannot be won unless the new bill is passed and the Contaloría General de la Republica (comptroller's office) approve the hiring of the 300 new Tránsito officials.