QCOSTARICA – Riding a motorcycle in Costa Rica can be deadly. And the numbers prove it: seven out of ten people who died on the country’s roads last month were on a motorcycle.
According to the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) – Ministry of Transport – the number of motorcyclists killed during last April is the highest in the last decade.
In total, 23 of the 32 deaths in traffic accidents in April were driving or were passengers of a motorcycle.
That represents 72% of all deaths on the roads that month.
In December 2015, there 22 deaths recorded, but the figure only represented 55% of the 40 deaths.
The head of the traffic police, Mario Calderon, said the numbers worry authorities and assured a prevention campaign directed at motorcyclists will be implemented.
According to Calderon, of the 142 deaths on the roads this year, in 45% of the cases (63 people) they were on a motorcycle, compared to only 17% travelling in a car.
The numbers also indicate 20 more motorcyclists were killed so far this year over the same period in 2015.
“Statistics for last April are really negative. We are facing a serious public health problem because it is disproportionate to have 3 of every 4 deaths in a month are motorcyclists,” Calderon said.
Some of the recklessness of motorcyclists:
- Travelling the wrong way
- Riding on sidewalks
- Passing on the right
- Riding without a helmet
- Riding without reflective vests
The traffic police chief added that carrying large boxes or other packages in making deliveries hampers visibility and the rush to make quick deliveries leads motorcyclists to commit indiscretions.
Important to note that the numbers do not reflect deaths occurring in hospitals as a result of a traffic accident.
Source: La Nacion
