Walking in Panama not always the best way to go

 

 If you survive the  gaping holes in sidewalks, muggings  and people talking on cell phones, there is still the danger of crossing the road.

 

Official figures released on the weekend show that of the 389 traffic deaths recorded so far this year 163 were “run overs”.

 

In an environment where motorists rarely stop at  zebra crossings,  pedestrians jay walk with  what they apparently believe is impunity, and diablos rojos engage in chariot races to pick up a fare, the toll is not surprising.

 

Meanwhile traffic police standing on  Calle 50 or Via Espana look the other way. No “coima” from pedestrians?

 

Behind run overs come 120 deaths from collisions between vehicles and 53 collisions with fixed objects. The latter toll  includes two separate events at the same location on the weekend on the  Pan-American Highway in Tocumen  at the junction of Las Mañanitas and Belén. 

 

A 21year-old died when crashing his car into a utility pole, and less than three hours later at the same junction a 17 year-old was killed when his car struck a crane.

 

The grim 389 toll of traffic deaths is trailing last year’s total by 19. But with the holiday season approaching, in spite of increased checks on drinking and driving,  many  more families will  enter the new year  grieving  over the loss of loved ones, and last year’s total is likely to be overtaken.

 

POLICE RUDENESS

 

Meanwhile Newsroom  is receiving more reports from readers detailing  harsh treatment or extreme rudeness from police when stopped at check points.

 

One resident traveling with her daughter  says that when she was why she was pulled over on a city street as she had committed no offence, she was verbally abused, and the officer said “Don’t you know who I am? I am the law around here.” (This rivals the statement of a presidential driver involved in a collision who, although at fault, said to the other driver “Don’t you know who I am?”).

 

In the case of the police officer no mention of serving and protecting.

 

The woes of the lady in question got worse. She did not have her cedula in her wallet and her driving license had expired a few days before. Her car was impounded and she and her terrified daughter were hauled off to a police station.

 

A warning to the wise.  Don’t query the police when they stop you … they may not  have been trained to emulate the polite London Bobby, or Toronto’s finest,  and always carry your cedula or, if a visitor, a photo copy of your passport.

 

Keeping your license up to date will not only help avoid hassles but will avoid problems with your insurance company if you are involved in an accident.

 

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Original Source: Newsroompanama.com

Date Retrieved: December 6, 2010-