IAFA Wants Stricter
Drunk Driving Measures In New Ley De
Tránsito For March 1
Legislators in Costa Rica today begin
discussion on the reforms of the new Ley de
Tránsito that is to go into effect on March
1. And one the items up for discussion is
the changes to the drunk driving provisions.
The drunk driving provisions of the new Ley
de Tránsito went into effect on December 23,
2008, with the date of September 23, 2009
for the remainder of the regulations, which
date was pushed to March 1, 2010.
The current legislation says that anyone
with a blood alcohol reading of 0.75 is
impaired and is subject to criminal
prosecution, including jail and a
permanent loss of the drivers license.
However, the Instituto Sobre Alcoholismo y
Farmacodependiencia (IAFA) is pushing for
the limit to be dropped to 0.50, arguing
that the the 0.75 is too permissive and is
not enough of a deterrent.
Guiselle Amador, director of the IAFA, is of
the opinion that by keeping the limit at
0.75 many will continue to drive drunk and
thus the country will continue with more
fatal traffic accidents.
Amador backs her arguments of experts that
say that a 0.50 limit for those 24 years of
age and over and 0.20 for those under that
age, is required to keep drunk drivers off
the road.
In addition, the IAFA is asking that
legislators include a provision for an
educational course for those caught driving
under the influence.
"This tool is ideal to educate, prevent and
detect early those with problems with
alcohol", said Amador.
Amador also believes that the other public
institutions like the INS (Instituto
Nacional de Seguros, the national insurer),
the CCSS (the Caja Costarricense de Seguro
Social, the country's social security) and
the COSEVI (the nation's driving authority)
work together to reduce drunk driving and
road fatalities.
The IAFA is also seeking that legislators
allow a portion of the fines collected from
drivers towards prevention and driving
instruction.
In 2009, 43 people lost their lives to drunk
driving, aside from the many more who
suffered injuries from traffic accidents
involving drunk drivers.
The World Health Organization figures
indicate that between 20% and 50% of all
fatal traffic accidents around the world
involve alcohol abuse. |
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