Early this morning (Saturday) the Policía de Tránsito, under the direction of Germán Marín, began an intensive operation on the nation's roads for a safe return home for vacationers and a safe back to school on Monday.

The traffic police is in full operation, all its available officials working through the weekend to keep a strong presence on the highways, especially the more trafficked and dangerous spots.

In addition, according to directive 34583-MOPT, heavy trucks are not permitted circulation this weekend on the autopistas General Cañas, Bernardo Soto, Florencio del Castillo and Braulio Carrillo, as well as the Cerro Cambronero and Radial a Heredia between Pirro and La Pozuelo.

The restriction to reduce congestion as vacationers return from the beaches and resorts, ending the summer vacation, for the back to school on Monday.

On the minds of traffic officials is also the high carnage on the highways and their efforts to reduce such.
According to numbers by the Policía de Tránsito, last month was one of the bloodiest in the last years, with a total of 34 people losing their lives in traffic accidents, 12 more than January 2008.

Director Marín expressed concern that the majority of the deaths were of pedestrians being hit by vehicles, which was greater than deaths by drunk and reckless drivers.

According to Marín deaths on the highways will not go down until the new fines go into effect.