This year 150 people have died in traffic accidents in Guayaquil, most of the victims were on motorcycles.
Every third Sunday in November, those who lost their lives due to traffic accidents are remembered worldwide.
In Guayaquil, this Sunday, November 21, the Transit and Mobility Agency (ATM) together with the Ecuador delegation of the international Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative organized a symbolic event in Centenario Park.
First, family members of victims, members of Asoplejica, the Ecuadorian Red Cross, the Guayas delegation, and NGOs involved in education work with the community visited 9 de Octubre Avenue.
During the emotional event, videos were also screened to raise public awareness. In addition, members of the Sur Oscura bar were present, whose members lost their lives and others were injured in the incident that occurred on the Cuenca-Molleturo highway in 2018.
Outside the Centenario park, a virtual speed simulator was also installed so that citizens can learn about the effects of driving without caution. Before the end of the event, flowers were handed out to plant as a souvenir of the victims and the work to be done to annually reduce the fatality figures from traffic accidents that reveal that every 23 seconds a person loses their life as a result of a traffic accident.
In Guayaquil, in 2020 there were 3,792 accidents that caused the death of 160 people, despite the fact that traffic accidents were reduced by 29% compared to the previous year (2019), the number of deaths increased by 19 %, and not least, 3,662 injuries of all kinds were reported, with temporary or permanent disabilities.
So far this year (from January to October) there have been 150 fatalities, the motorcycle being the vehicle with the highest share of fatalities and speeding the common denominator in these misfortunes.
Vanesa Ordóñez, Deputy General Manager of the ATM, said that the institution is committed to working on information, awareness, control and foundation campaigns for safe and efficient mobility for all, however, she stressed that they cannot handle the problem alone.
“We need the collaboration of drivers and pedestrians … A traffic accident cannot be avoided, it is a fortuitous event, but with traffic accidents we can, paying attention to the signs on the road, driving with caution, pedestrians circulating through crossings safe and everyone, to avoid distractions at the wheel, motorcyclists with prudent speed … Recommendations that we all know, but that we do not apply until it is too late ”, mentioned the official. (I)
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
