Killers behind the wheel, traffic deaths reach 172

A 25-YEAR OLD passenger in a speeding car became the 34th Chiriqui traffic fatality so far this year and the national total has climbed to 172. Three others, one, an off duty policemen, were seriously injured and taken to hospital. The car crashed into a light pole. In the El Campesino, district of Chiriqui Grande, Bocas del Toro and alcohol was believed to be a contributing factor.

 Traffic accidents have become a national concern with this year’s fatalities on a pace to exceed last year’s total of 426, numbers far in excess of those registered in  cities on the American continent with populations well ahead of Panama’s.

 Police reports show that those who caused the deaths, were in many cases, drivers who were drunk, drugged, speeding  and careless.. They became murderers at the wheel says an El Siglo report.
The authorities do not record the number of drivers who have killed a pedestrian or caused deaths in another vehicle vehicle but it is estimated that out of every 100 traffic accident deaths, 30 were caused by negligent drivers.
Under the Criminal Code, Article 133, any person ”who negligently causes the death of another shall be punished with imprisonment for 3-5 years.
“The penalty will be increased by two-thirds for those who commits the act while driving a vehicle under the influence of alcoholic beverages or hallucinogens.”
But the punishment in infrequently applied. The condition of the vehicle and the road is often used by defense lawyers as a mitigating factor
Carla Fernandez, a lawyer who specializes in accident cases, explained that while the accident is part of the category of intentional crimes, in 98% of cases, the driver does not use the vehicle as a weapon.
Likewise, she explained, the penalties for intentional crimes (traffic accidents) have always been benign because it takes into account not only the severity but the social impact caused by the behavior.

In Chorrera last month the death of a poplar arts teacher caused outrage when he was hit on the sidewalk by  a pickup with a drunk driver behind the wheel. But the deaths of less prominent  victims rarely  get much attention.
There are numerous cases where the driver runs over and kills more than one)and walks free after paying a fine.
Carlos Harris, former director of the Transit Authority, said authorities have shown little interest and a lot of improvisation in the matter of traffic accidents. He said traffic regulations need to be reformed so that the fines for speeding rise from $60 to $ 250 with retention of the vehicle until the fine is paid.
According to the former director, accidents recorded in recent weeks, in which people ahave been killen on or near crosswalks, are due to lack of driver education.
“The driver has to know the idiosyncrasies of the pedestrian not using crosswalks … The driver has a duty to be careful,’ for the pedestrian is a natural risk,” said Harris.
He questioned the lack of traffic police on the streets, so that no one can impose sanctions.