Imprudent
Pedestrians
Among The Most
Frequent Cause
Of Traffic
Accidents In
Costa Rica
Pedestrians The
sign at the toll
station east of
the airport
reads "Costa
Rica loves
peace, but has a
war on its
roads". That
statement,
reminding
drivers daily,
cannot be more
true, especially
when it comes to
motorcyclists
and pedestrians,
who suffer the
worst of a
traffic
accident.
Aggressive
driving,
motorcyclists
weaving in and
out of traffic
and pedestrians
crossing
anywhere and at
anytime,
oblivious to
oncoming traffic
and road
conditions,
result in fatal
accidents almost
daily.
So far this
year, 23
pedestrians (one
a week) had
died, according
to the Policía
de Tránsito.
Many of the
deaths could
have been
avoided by
crossing at an
intersection
and/or using a
pedestrian
overpass on the
highways.
It is not
uncommon from
pedestrians to
get off the bus
in front of the
CIMA hospital or
Multiplaza and
then dash across
the busy highway
instead of using
the pedestrian
overpass
recently built
at both
locations. The
same is common
in front of
Plaza Cariari,
as pedestrians
walk around the
high fence
mounted on the
concrete divider
to dash across
Costa Rica's
busiest highway,
rather than use
the overpass.
Add to that the
aggressive
driving habits
of many drivers
who can
regularly be
seen not slowing
down for
imprudent
pedestrians. And
not to mention
the constant tug
of war between
drivers of
vehicles and
motorcycles.
Or the Sunday
morning battle
between cyclists
and speeding
vehicles on the
Próspero
Fernández (San
José - Caldera)
between the
Santa Ana
intersection and Piedades, in
both directions.
This section of
highway has the
highest speed
limit in the
country (100
km/h between the
Forum bridge and
the Pieades
exit) and where
cyclists insist
on using the
right lane for
their personal
training track.
Traffic
accidents
represent the
main cause of
all deaths in
Costa Rica.
According to the
ministerio de
Salud, in 2008,
793 were
recorded. This
number, the
latest available
by the Health
ministry,
includes all
deaths on the
scene of an
accident and/or
later in
hospital, while
the more current
numbers by the
Policía de
Tránsito include
only fatalities
on the scene.
The irony is
that the Ley de
Tránsito calls
for fines for
imprudent
pedestrians and
cyclists, but is
rarely applied
by Tránsito
(traffic)
officials. In
the case of the
highways,
including the
Próspero
Fernández, there
are signs
prohibiting
pedestrians and
cyclists. But no
one pays
attention to
them, partly due
to the poor
design of the
roads,
especially when
it comes to bus
stops along
highways and in
many cases
pedestrians have
no other choice
but to dash
across speeding
traffic to get
to the other
side.
To combat the
problem the
Ministerio de
Obras Públicas y
Trasnportes (MOPT)
is promoting
road safety
education in
children and
youth, to
instill early in
age a
responsible
attitude.
Héctor Monge,
director of the
Consejo de
Seguridad Vial (Cosevi),
says that
accidents
involving
pedestrians is
the second cause
of all deaths on
the road, second
to speeding.
Monge says that
pedestrians do
not realize
their
disadvantage
against an
oncoming
vehicle.
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