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Majority of 2007 Traffic
Deaths Involved Alcohol,
Tránsito Numbers Reveal
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2008 Marchamo
Zapote Fair
Extended To Jan 6 |
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Majority of 2007 Traffic
Deaths Involved Alcohol,
Tránsito Numbers Reveal
2007 was a record year
for deaths occurred on
the roads with a total
345, 16 more than in
2006, according to
figures released by the
Policía de Tránsito.
And, if you add the
number of deaths in
hospitals after the
accident, the toll
reaches 441.
Tránsito officials say
that more than half of
the deaths involved
alcohol and
speeding/reckless
driving, followed by
crossing the median and
reckless pedestrians.
The message of the
results of drinking and
driving never hit home,
say Tránsito officials,
who confiscated a total
of 419 vehicles, in
December alone, of
drivers who were drunk
behind the wheel.
Huanelgue Gutiérrez,
subdirector of the
Policía de Tránsito,
considers that
notwithstanding the
record number of deaths,
their controls and the
use of seatbelts
contributed to keeping
the numbers at a
minimum.
"Unfortunately in all
entertainment alcohol
plays a role", said
Gutiérrez.
Although the number of
deaths is still high, it
is lower than in past
years when 414 deaths
were recored in 2000,
dropping to 278 in 2005
and then shooting up
again in the last two
years.
The Policía de Tránsito
report issuing a total
of 400.000 partes
(traffic tickets) during
2007, 40.000 of which
were issued in December.
The partes are for a
variety of traffic
violations, that include
driving without a
license, speeding and
failing to respect
traffic signs are among
the violations.
Number of traffic deaths
recorded by year:
2000 414
2001 438
2002 397
2003 363
2004 321
2005 278
2006 329
2007 345
Source: Policía de
Tránsito
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Impounded vehicles of
drunk drivers sit in the
Tránsito lots. |
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