Cellular Phone:  Danger At The Wheel
Driving and talking on a cellular phone is contrary to tránsito (traffic) regulations but many continue to do so, and according to Rodolfo Manjarréz, of the Dirección General de la Policía de Tránsito, this year to day, Tránsito officials have issued 7.234 fines for using a cellular telephone while driving.

That number is an increase of 1.195 more fines for the same period in 2004 and 3.569 more than the same period in 2003.

The fine for using a cellular telephone while driving is ¢10.000 colones (us$20.), which so far this year fills the government coffers with an additional ¢72.3 million colones.

The cost due to an accident because a driver was talking on the telephone is uncalculable, especially if the accident results in the loss of life.

Manjarréz says that to date that have been no accidents directly attributed to cellular telephone use. However, anyone driving in San José can attest to near misses - driver changing lanes or missing a stop sign - as they char away on the phone.

Tránsito authorities are worried on the growing use of cellular phone while driving, especially motorcyclists who inist on having a phone in one hand while speeding through the city streets.

Using hands free is one solution. There are various units available from fixed in car mounted, to wire earphones to wireless bluetooth devices that allows total freedom of using a cellular phone while driving.

Of course, the best prevention against fines and accidents is not to use a cell phone while driving. Think of your vehicle as a "cellular free" zone.

Safe driving.