Traffic Accidents are One of the Main Causes of Death in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica’s roads are infamous and, though often riddled with potholes, these long stretches of asphalt and dirt are the only way to wind your way through magnificent rural hills and beachside towns. However, as many tourists and new residents quickly discover, Costa Rica’s roads are not just a comedic exercise in dodge-the-crater, but are also quite dangerous, causing too many fatal accidents each year. To combat the country’s rate of road fatalities, the General Comptroller (the organization that distributes governmental funds) has approved a ¢500 million ($1 million) grant for road security construction projects.

Traveling almost anywhere in Costa Rica — from hidden Corcovado, to the festive Caribbean, and onto quiet Monteverde — you will have to pass through one of the country’s many small cities and towns. The newly approved upcoming road projects will invest money into streets in the capital of San José, and those that connect them with Puriscal, San Carlos, Turrialba, Golfito, Pérez Zeledón, Esparza, Los Chiles, Guatuso, Nicoya, Bagaces and Santa Cruz, in addition to smaller, more rural areas, as well.

The construction projects will begin by fortifying roads already in place, adding sidewalks for pedestrian safety, road barriers to improve mountain safety, and pedestrian crosswalks and pedestrian bridges to protect Costa Rica’s millions who walk instead of drive. In addition, bicyclists will finally be a priority, and the construction will also include bicycle paths exclusive for budding cyclists, promoting recreational bicycling, as well as a cheaper and more environmentally friendly commute.

The main objective of all the new construction is to reduce Costa Rica’s road accident rate, especially those that result in human fatalities. Indeed, as anyone will agree, Costa Rica’s streets are too often marked by the yellow painted hearts that indicate an auto fatality. The country’s many pedestrians, also in fear of their lives, should have improved walking options.

However, a large investment is not the only requirement for safer roads. Though pedestrian bridges and road barriers along the mountainsides will go a long way towards improving Costa Rica’s road infrastructure, it is of paramount importance that drivers’ attitudes change. Currently, red lights are often regarded as merely a suggestion, cars fly through crosswalks with only a toot of the horn to warn a pedestrian, and aggressive, lawless driving is the name of the game.

In order to truly improve Costa Rica travel and road safety, road police must be much more vigilant, pulling over speeding drivers, arresting those that ignore traffic signs, and enforcing pedestrian safety. Without these additional efforts, it is likely that the country’s new sidewalks and other additions will have only a minimal effect, falling prey to the errant driving and seeming disregard that is so typical to the country’s drivers.

However, with a ¢500 million investment, Costa Rica is taking an important step towards road safety. Hopefully, as these improvements take place, Costa Rica will be well on its way toward stronger law enforcement, the two forming a dynamite combination that will truly see an improvement in road safety.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on June 24th, 2008