As of May, 7,947 drivers were fined for not using safety devices, the Traffic Police reported.

Of these, 828 drivers were fined for carrying children without the proper safety devices, the Traffic Police reported.

According to the police statistics, about six drivers a day were sanctioned for carrying children under 12 years of age without the safety devices such as carrycot or booster seats based on weight and size.

 

The penalty for not using safety devices is one of the most expensive ones established by the Traffic Law, about $350 plus the penalty of four points assessed on their driving record.

According to the Traffic Law, all children under the age of 12, and smaller than 145 centimeters, must use a booster seat appropriate for their weight and size, according to the law, which makes these stipulations:

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 for as long as possible, up to 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 the vehicle seat belt to fit them correctly should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for their best protection. All children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.

Officers also fined 3,103 drivers for not wearing seat belts. Some 1,259 drivers were fined for allowing passengers not to wear their seat belts. Drivers must pay a fine of about $170.

They also fined 1,775 motorcycle riders for not wearing a helmet or wearing it incorrectly. Additionally, 982 riders were fined for allowing the passenger not to wear the helmet. Riders must pay a fine of about $170.

Police call on drivers to respect the law and take precautionary measures to avoid accidents, especially when transporting children. People can report any case of a child carried out in a vehicle without a safety device to the 911 emergency line.

Police also applied over 8,300 DUI tests as of May. Of these, officers identified 1,000 positive drunk drivers with more than 0.75 grams of alcohol in their systems. They were arrested and their vehicles were impounded.  

Also,   police targeted more than 18,000   people who received a fine for reckless driving, such as failing to stop at a red light, wrongful parking, and speeding among others.

Additionally,   police reported over 200 traffic accident deaths from January to May.

Last year, more than 300 people died in traffic accidents.

-------------
What is the penalty for carrying out a child in a vehicle without a safety device in your country?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com