Mr. Pabel Muñoz: It is frustrating and painful that one of the most serious problems in the capital of Ecuador is road insecurity. This is not a small problem and has deep roots in the idiosyncrasy that has normalized violence as a mechanism for relating to others. The other is always the enemy: the driver of the continuous car, motorcycle, scooter, cyclist and pedestrian. It is a matter of culture and certainly psyche, insecurity and complexes. As if the average Quito man had to act like a troglodyte to confirm his existence and as if the size of the car restored his male potency. Lives are lost all the time in Quito, because a driver from Quito is worth a hell of a lot to another.

The brutal experience of any day can start with public transport that brazenly violates traffic regulations, competes in frantic races, overcrowds users and offends vulnerable groups. It is insane to normalize violence in the unsafe and flawed public transport system we have, controlled by the mafia and drivers who are used to getting away with impunity after committing crimes in education zones and pedestrian crossings. Anecdote: on a recent Saturday, while the army was checking my car as part of the fight against crime in the country, the bus behind me honked its horn excitedly. The collector shouted that they control the arrival time. Who controls them? Is that why there are frantic races? Unpunished and daily violation of traffic regulations?

School drivers are not far behind. In my case, I deal daily with those from the Manuela Cañizares educational unit, in the traditional neighborhood of La Mariscal. They form a lodge of self-proclaimed incompetents to respect the zebra. In fact, they are quite capable of carjacking anyone who crosses their noses, including college students themselves. Isn’t driver education essential in Quito, which should be taught and practiced in the same public and private education centers in the city district?

Recently, Twitter users informed you, Mr. Mayor, about a car that violated the bike lane in broad daylight, a transportation alternative that you have a duty to protect and expand, so that the capital has alternatives: a city designed for cars has failed and is unsustainable. Quito has long been a no man’s land, where every madman believes he can do whatever he wants without any consequences. This perception of impunity is particularly serious among the authorities and public servants of all levels of the state who invade sidewalks, bicycle paths and exclusive public transport lanes with cars without license plates. If this is a Republic, they have no privileges, but should use the best behavior of respect and civilized coexistence. I am reporting my views to you with the hope that your administration will ensure that the fate of road users is not to die like this in Quito. (OR)