With at least 100 control operations, the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police) intends to keep the roads across the country safe this Semana Santa.
According to the director of the Policia de Transito, German Marin, 741 officers (Transitos) will be working around the clock, divided into two 12-hour shifts, with focus mainly on the routes such as the Cambronero, San Jose – Caldera and Braulio Carillo, the main roads that move people to and from the Central Valley to the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
Other points of interest by Transitos will be Atenas, Limón, Sixaola, Río Frío, Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, Naranjo, Zarcero, La Fortuna, Liberia, Santa Cruz, Limonal, Puente Tempisque, Cerro de la Muerte and the Costanera Sur, among others
Marin explained there will be at least 78 speed control points and 20 spotchecks for drinking and driving. Units will also be visiting public transport (bus) terminals, with the aim of subjecting to drivers to breathlyzer tests.
In addition, a select group of officials will be on ‘active surveillance’, that is moving between points on routes, keeping an eye for reckless driving. Marin added there will also be fixed check points in main tourism routes and in the greater metropolitan area.
In Semana Santa 2018, there 1,475 traffic accidents in which 14 people died and 6,687 fines were issued to drivers.
Semana Santa 2019 officially gets underway tomorrow, Saturday, April 13 and ends on Sunday, April 21. The legal (statutory) holiday days are Thursday (April 18) and Friday (April 19).