On Father’s Day, June 18, a traffic accident shocked the connoisseurs of events in Guayaquil: on the road to the coast, a driver ran over three people, a grandfather and his two grandsons, aged 15 and 17, while they were waiting for the delivery of bicycles to go to the bike path.

This was immediately followed by the arrest of the person identified as the cause of the death of three people. A breathalyzer test was performed at the Prosecutor’s Office, which determined an alcohol level of 2.06 degrees. Up to 0.3 degrees is allowed.

The laws stipulate that whoever causes such an accident can be sentenced to twelve years in prison. Every time an accident occurs due to irresponsibility, the alarm goes off. The mayor of Guayaquil, Aquiles Alvarez, announced that the plan his administration made a month ago included drastic measures for these cases and predicted that radars would be needed on the way to the coast.

“90 km/h is too much for the urban area,” say residents along the coast, who are demanding speed reductions and other measures in the event of an accident.

Another measure is random checks of drivers in the city. The least is that the date was not announced, the operatives should never have been left out, nor should they have been alarmed. You must act strictly in order to respect the life of others.

Ideally, drivers would drive responsibly and not consume alcohol, it’s unfortunate that a tragedy has to happen for something to be done. Every traffic violation is dangerous, distractions cost lives.

Neighbors along the coast erected an altar in memory of the grandfather and grandchildren who were hit by a car

In case of non-observance of driving rules, their violation, there are valid sanctions. Not getting involved in a tragic case depends on each person behind the wheel.

Agents, drivers and authorities can make a pact of knowledge of traffic rules and compliance to avoid fines and fully consider humanity. Marches and protests that call for conscience are valid, but even though Ecuador is a country of solidarity, life cannot be restored, what can be done is to avoid the repetition of soul-piercing events like the one on Sunday. (OR)