Stress Cause of Many Traffic Accidents, Authorities Say
Tránsito authorities are blaming stress. But the truth is that bad drivers are all over us and driving in Costa Rica has become more dangerous each year. Of the 924 violent deaths registered during 2005, 36% or 332 due to traffic accidents.

Last month traffic accident deaths led the statistics, with 41 people losing their lives on the roads caused by: use of alcohol, speeding and bad driving.

Tránsito officials, though recognizing that alcohol is a contributing factor in the largest number of deaths, they say that stress leads many to traffic accidents.

But drivers are not always to blame. Hearts have sprung up all over the roads in Costa Rica. The hearts are placed at the scene where a pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle. Many of the hearts are close to or at bus stops, as crossing a busy highway, dogding speeding traffic is a right.

In total, 924 deaths were registered during 2005. Following traffic accidents, being shot and drowning were other major causes of deaths. There were 72 deaths registered in the month of December alone, though July, March and June, respectively registered the largest number of deaths in a single month.