I saw this video on Facebook today and wasn't the least bit surprised at what I saw.  The video is old (posted in 2008) and shows just how bad traffic can get in the capital city of Peru.  There may be laws that supposedly enforce traffic but when the police don't even follow them how can you expect the general public to take them seriously.

I can't believe I am writing about this cities public transportation problems again, maybe since I just saw a bus crash only a few feet from my home!  Just when I've raised my white flag and assimilated to the fact that traffic and everything pertaining to driving rules and regulations for the most part ceases to exist, something like this happens that gets my blood boiling again.  Growing up in the States has truly spoiled me this much I know for certain since I can never seem to get over such differences in lifestyle.

Last week I witnessed a large public bus try to pass a car by going into oncoming traffic only to collide with a large truck and veer onto the sidewalk and into the side of a building.  This display of the bus driver's complete disregard or lack of concern for the safety of his passengers aboard reflected a very common trend in mentality.  In Peru, one would argue that the passenger sacrifices certain securities in exchange for shorter travel times and quick arrival to destination, however at some point one has to ask whether the risks of public transportation in Lima are worth saving a few minutes on the highway.

To better understand the situation it is important for the reader to realize that Peru has one of the highest transit accident rates in Latin America, second only to Argentina whom of course has ten times the number of vehicles.  According to a study conducted by the Universidad Católica de Lima in 2007, in 2006 the number of victims involved in public transit accidents (in all of Peru) totaled 77,840 of which 6% were fatal.  Studies futher indicate that the number of accidents registered in the country continue to rise from year to year, even more surprising is that the number of fatalities rise with this trend as well.

The Ministry of Communication and Transportation published statistics that placed the most common cause of vehicular accidents was due to excessive speed (31.8%), which was followed by driver recklessness (25.4%).  This doesn't surprise me in the least bit since these are the problems which continue to persist today on the highways and streets of Lima. 

The publication further goes on to point out that an estimated 7,000 public transport drivers operate under suspended drivers licenses (for infringing upon public transit laws), of which shockingly 70% operate in Lima!  In Lima, there exists this almost complete disregard for traffic laws, which is apparent when a stop sign is taken a merely a suggestion by drivers rather than as an obligation (god forbid you ever try to cross at a cross-walk and a car has to stop at a designated stop sign, you might just get yelled at and insulted by the driver for not giving him/her the right of way).

How is one suppose to feel safe when the enter a public bus and put their lives in the safety of a driver whose only concern is to pick up as many passengers as possible while competing with other buses both rival and fellow company drivers.  Don't even get me started about the travel buses that transport citizens across the country while trying to beat the clock at all costs.

According to the Director Juan Tapia, of the Center of Investigation for Terrestrial Transport (Cidatt), "Peru has one of the highest index for transit related deaths in Latin America, with 30 fatalities for every 10,000 vehicles."  Director Tapia also stated that from 2001 to 2008 that the number of death and injury related transit accidents within the country (excluding Lima Metropolitan Area) has decreased by 6%, where in Lima it has increased 82%, with the common cause being the recklessness of drivers.  In this study the most common victim were pedestrians.

Some believe that the problem with the large incidence rates is due in part to a lack of a structured authoritative body to better enforce the plague of transit problems in Peru and Lima.  At the moment the streets remain unsafe and the risk still exists if not stronger than before when someone chooses to take public transportation.  This danger is also present for those who choose to drive their own personal vehicle on the roads and highways of Peru.  How does one drive safely while respecting the transit laws when many do not, it gives a whole new meaning to defensive driving.



Sources:

Universidad La Católica de Lima
http://revistas.pucp.edu.pe/willay/node/518

TerraPeru News
http://noticias.terra.es/mundo/2009/1229/actualidad/peru-tiene-el-indice-mas-alto-de-muertes-en-accidentes-de-transito-de-la-region.aspx

While waiting in afternoon traffic on the Panamericana Highway I saw this bus and it's painted letters caught my eye. The city of Lima is overrun with what I can only assume are thousands upon thousands of combi's and buses, excluding all of the taxi's, colectivo's, & mototaxi's. One thing is for sure it is easy to catch a ride in just about any part of the city, except when there is a paro de auto (halt of transit service).

The paro de auto usually comes about when the government decides to pass new traffic laws or more commonly raise the fine rates on traffic tickets. Fortunately paros don't happen very often so it's rarely an inconvenience.

Anyways getting back on track, being a huge fan of art I am impressed by the combination of colors and texts that are used to "pimp" if you will each bus and combi. What makes it more appealing is that most of the writing on the vehicles is done with what looks like spray paint and what I would assume are handmade templates.