Tránsito Aims To Curb Speeding And Drunk
Driving
The carnage on the streets has reached a
point where the Policía de Tránsito (traffic
police) have to take a tougher stand on
drivers, especially drunk drivers and "temerarios"
(speeders), the two major causes of traffic
fatalities in Costa Rica.
Last month, on average one person died daily
in a traffic accident, a number that does
not sit well with Tránsito officials.
Germán Marín, the director of the Policía de
Tránsito, says that the lack of culture,
conscience and respect invades Ticos (Costa
Ricans) when they get behind the wheel.
Marín told the La Nación in an interview
that Ticos lack driver education and that
60% of the drivers are irrisponsible,
especially when it comes to the holiday
seasons like Christmas and Easter Week.
As such Marín said that the intense police
controls on the nationals highways will be
maintained until the end of Easter Week
instead of the tradition of a few days after
the end of the Christmas holidays.
The answer for the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to curb
speeding is buy more radat units for the
Tránsito. The introduction of the new Ley de
Tránsito on March 1 will also help in the
fight against speeding, as fines increase to
10 times or more the current and a point
system will punish bad drivers.
Currently the maximum fine for speeding is
¢26.000 colones (¢20.000 plus costs) no
matter what the speed is. On March 1, the
fine goes to &262.275 colones plus points.
In addition, drivers caught going over 150
Kmh will automatically lose their license.
As of Wednesday, traffic officials recorded
fining more than 1.500 drivers for speeding.
And these were only the ones that got
caught.
The new Ley de Tránsito went into effect on
December 23, 2008. However, due to political
pressure, only the drunk driving provisions
went into effect, postponing the full effect
of the law to September 23, 2009, which was
then pushed back again, now to March 1,
2010.
Even though the law is tough on drunk
drivers who are no subject to jail and
losing their vehicle, the Policia de
Tránsito, caught more than 300 drivers in
December - an average of 10 a day - over the
limit.
Marín explained that there are preventive
measures in place to reduce drunk drivers
and speeders, with spot checks in key areas,
as well spot checks now are during the day
as well, a practice that was only at night.
However, that clearly has not been enough,
especially during the holiday season.
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
