177 Killed In Traffic Accidents in Costa Rica In The First Half of the Year

Costa Rica is with 177 people less so far this year, all victims of a traffic accident, in whose majority were pedestrians.

The number represents 13 more traffic fatalities over the same period last year.

Motorcyclist deaths have also increased, reaching 50 deaths in the first six monts of 2012, as compared to 42 in the same period in 2011.

According to the statistics, jaywalkers who died in traffic accidents were second to deaths caused by excessive speeding or under the influence of alcohol while being the wheel of a vehicle.

Silvia Bolaños, the executive director of the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), says the figures reflect many things, one of them is that we must work much harder on the issue of prevention on the road.

Many attribute the rise in traffic fatalities to the weakened traffic laws, with Constitutioal Court decisions rolling back fines for speeding, for examples, and shutting down the traffic cameras program.

For example, the traffic law of March 2010 set the fine for speeding in excess of ¢300.000 colones with all costs in. The Constitutional Court struck down the section of the law with respect to fines, deeming them disproportionate, rolling back the maximum fine for speeding to ¢20.000 colones.

A new Ley de Tránsito that reestablishes the high fines was recently passed in first vote and is now waiting on a review by the Constitutional Court before being submitted to second and final vote.