Saturday 09 August
2008, San José, Costa Rica
One in Four
Traffic Deaths Involve A Motorcycle
Telecom Monopoly
Officially At An End
Recope Gas Price
Drop A Joke!
Constitutional Court
Denies Same Sex Partners
Appeal For Conjugal
Visits
Orotina Celebrated Its
100th Birthday
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One in Four Traffic
Deaths Involve A
Motorcycle
One if four fatal
traffic accidents
involves a motorcycle,
that according to
figures released by the
Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes
(MOPT) which has
recorded that of the 204
traffi accident deaths
this year, 62 were
motocyclists.
Each month this year an
average of 8.8
motorcyclists lost their
lives while riding on
the roads.
The number is alarming
mainly due to the fact
that the monthly average
last year was 6.1, as a
total of 74 deaths were
recorded for the entire
year.
The director de la
Policía de Tránsito,
Germán Marín, theorizes
that the higher
mortality rate is due to
inexperienced
motorcyclists, many who
trading in their four
wheels for two in the
face of high gasoline
prices.
Figures of the Instituto
Nacional de Seguros
(INS) - state insurer -
shows that in 2007 there
were 800.000 vehicles
registered, of which
100.000 were motorcycles
or 1 in 7 vehicles on
the road.
That number is higher
today as gasolines
prices continue to soar
and many opt for a
cheaper form of
transportation. In
addition, the vehicular
restrictions of San José
have caused a tendency
of more two wheeled
vehicles - motorcycles
and scooters - on the
roads as those vehicles
are not included in the
restriction.
During the first four
months of this year
16.000 motorcycles were
imported or 40% more
than the whole of 2007.
Importers are responding
to the increase in the
demand.
Director Marín blames
the lack of driver
education for the
increase in accidents
and deaths involving
motorcycles.
"People with bad driving
habits or bad
pedestrians take those
habits to their
motorcycles, a vehicle
which is much more
susceptible", said Marín.
The Tránsito director
added that many take to
the streets without the
knowledge of the dangers
and the proper handling
of a motorcycle.
The director said that
since the beginning of
2007 to date his
officials have issued
10.000 fines to
motorcyclists operating
their two wheeled
vehicle without a
license, each getting a
¢20.000 colones fine and
in many of the cases had
their vehicle
confiscated. Marín added
that many still continue
to ride without wearing
a helmet, which is
required.
Motorcycles or scooters
that are registered with
an engine of less than
100cc, under the current
traffic laws, do not
require the need for a
driver's license and the
purchase of a motorcycle
does not require the
show of proof of having
a license.
Anyone can go purchase a
motorcycle and ride it
home. Sales of
motorcycles have become
so common now that they
can be purchased in
stores where appliances
and home furnishings are
being sold. |
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