Volunteer firefighters reported more than 10 traffic accidents involving drunk drivers in the last 24 hours, and that’s just in this capital city.
Given the festive atmosphere that reigns these days, with Christmas markets in the historic center and the so-called “convivios” here (meetings of friends and co-workers at work), the Municipal Traffic Police (PMT) has announced the installation of postal alcohol testing devices in zones 9, 10 , 13, 14 and 16, among other places with large numbers of visitors.
PMT authorities confirmed that people are consuming drinks but not naming sober drivers as a precaution or using taxis as an alternative.
They said the fines range from 5,000 to 25,000 quetzales (from $658 to $3,290) and they could even confiscate or confiscate the vehicle, driver’s license and ticket.
These operations also continue in the Mixco, Villa Nueva and Santa Catarina Pinula areas, where there are also social events and the number of vehicles is increasing.
Already in the first half of November, an average of 35 collisions per working day were recorded, but in the last weeks of the month the number rose to 57, said Amílcar Montejo, communications director of the Metropolitan Regulatory Entity for Transport and Transit in the city of Guatemala.
Montejo explained that while accidents happen during the day, they are less serious and tragic at night due to factors such as increased speed, poor visibility, fatigue and drowsiness, intoxication, fog and moisture on the tarmac.
As of September, 6,401 accidents were recorded around the capital, but authorities expect an increase this month if there is “drinking on the road” despite the official “zero tolerance” plan.
mgt/mmc