Authorities Fear A Bloody Semana Santa
Officials of the Cruz
Roja (Red Cross) are
fearing one of the worst
Semana Santas, topping
last year's number of
violent deaths during
the week that
"officially" began
Monday morning.
During Semana Santa last
year, 31 "violent"
deaths were recorded,
the majority from
traffic accidents.
So far this Semana
Santa, the Cruz Roja has
recorded 9 violent
deaths since 12:01am
Monday and 13 if
counting from Saturday,
compared 3 and 9 for the
same period last year.
The majority cause of
the violent deaths
during Semana Santa
continues to be a
mixture of alcohol and
reckless driving
To that end, the Policía
de Tránsito is on full
alert with the presence
of more officials on the
nation's highways, with
numerous spot checks at
crucial points along the
highways.
Germán Marín, director
of the Policía de
Tránsito, said that
between Friday - the
start of the exodus from
the Central Valley to
the beaches and resorts
- and Sunday, his
officials have issued
550 tickets for a
variety of traffic
offences and confiscated
15 vehicles from drunk
drivers.
The routes that are
expected to see the
heaviest traffic and
police presence ar the
highways leading to the
North Pacific (Guanacaste),
the Central Pacific (Jacó
and Quepos/Manuel
Antonio) and the
Caribbean (Limón).
Making matters worse,
according to Marín and
Cruz Roja officials is
the fact that the start
of Semana Santa
coincided with a pay
period (15th of the
month), meaning pockets
full of cash, bars full
and five days of
vacation time for many.
"That combination is
fatal because alcohol is
consumed and does not
end well. The situation
allows for abuse and end
in fatal traffic
accidents", said Marín.
The director added that
the majority of the
tickets issued during
the first days of the
holiday week were for
not having the vehicle
registration, driving
without a license and
the vehicle lights not
working.
On the positive side,
Marín said that Costa
Ricans have learned not
to leave their return
trip home until Sunday
afternoon, jamming the
routes around the
country, but beginning
their return home on
Saturday, meaning less
congestion, less stress
and the probability of
fewer accidents.
"This helps out in less
accidents from illegal
passing", said Marín.
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