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Published Thursday, March 4, 2021
February breaks records in road
accidents deaths in five years
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Despite the ban-on-driving rule enforced by the government to avoid an increase in covid-19 infections, and the fact that February has only 28 days, the Traffic Police reported a record of 35 people killed in road accidents.
This record makes February 2021 the month with the most deaths related to car crashes in the last five years.
According to police statistics, in the same month in 2020 there were 31 deaths, 30 in 2019, 28 in 2018 and 32 in 2017.
Other months with record deaths were December 2020 with 37 cases and January 2021 with 36, all the while within the ban-on-driving period ordered since April 2020.
This year there have been 71 deaths as a result of a car accident, the police said.
Another type of reckless behavior with increased fines, is not providing safety devices for children.
Last week, police reported having fined 168 drivers in January for transporting children without proper security devices.
According to the law, all children under the age of 12, and smaller than 145 centimeters, must use a booster seat appropriate for their weight and size.
All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
Children, specifically toddlers and preschoolers, who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness until the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Many seats can accommodate children up to 65 pounds or more.
All school-aged children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between the ages of 8 to 12.
Children old enough and large enough for a fitted vehicle seatbelt should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for their best protection. All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
Motorcyclists were also on that list of those fined during January. Traffic Police fined 15 bikers for illegally taking children under the age of 5 on a motorcycle.
According to the law, transporting children in a vehicle without the appropriate safety device or for carrying children under the age of 5 on a motorcycle, are fined approximately $365, plus their driver's record is penalized with 4 points.
People can report any case of faults to the Traffic Law by dialing the 911 emergency line.
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What have you heard about people driving with children without using safety devices? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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