Q COSTARICA — It is undeniable that every day traffic chaos gets worse. And with no real solution in sight. One of the main causes are “minor road accidents” with the potential to create massive traffic jams and affect countless drivers.
The good news is that, through the Pacto Amistoso (Friendly agreement), drivers involved in a minor traffic accident can quickly reach an agreement and move the vehicles, according to Ricardo León, head of the Auto Department at the State insurer, the Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS).
The Amicable Agreement is a legal tool that allows for faster handling of minor accidents, where there are no injuries or serious property damage, thus preventing vehicles from remaining on the road and causing further congestion.
“The Pacto Amistoso is definitely a tool that allows us to clear public roads as soon as possible, so that road users can resume traveling freely in the shortest possible time,” León explained.
“A minor accident can cause traffic jams stretching for several kilometers and significant waiting times, during which most vehicles are wasting fuel and emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. Therefore, an agreement like the Pacto Amistoso is very appropriate, when conditions allow, to resolve these types of traffic situations,” he added.
In addition to reducing traffic jams, this approach allows for a faster response to the incident.
“Furthermore, the response time to the accident is reduced because, as mentioned earlier, there is no need to wait for the traffic officer at the scene,” he noted.
How does the Pacto Amistoso work?
The Pacto Amistoso applies when the drivers involved reach an agreement regarding responsibility for the accident and have the necessary documentation to support what happened, such as photographs, videos, or witness statements.
Additionally, the driver who accepts responsibility must have a valid insurance policy with one of the insurance companies authorized to offer this mechanism.
However, this procedure cannot be used when there are injuries, significant property damage, two-wheeled vehicles—such as motorcycles, bicycles, or mopeds—are involved, or when the collision occurs with a fixed object.
The INS asserts that this tool not only benefits those involved in the accident but also other drivers by helping to maintain traffic flow and reducing the economic and environmental impact associated with long lines of stopped vehicles.