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4.8.05 |
| Are We Dead Yet? Surviving Puerto Rico's Roads |
| By Keith W. Tyras Romanello 2004: 10.22 10.29 11.5 11.12 11.19 11.26 12.3 12.10 12.17 12.24 12.31 |
| 2005: 1.7 1.14 1.21 1.28 2.4 2.11 2.18 2.25 3.4 3.11 3.18 3.25 4.1 4.15 4.22 4.29 5.6 5.13 5.20 5.27 6.3 6.10 6.17 6.24 7.1 7.8 7.15 7.22 7.29 8.5 8.12 8.19 8.26 9.2 |
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My spring break experiences were grisly. One year I went to San Juan, where a young American woman I met on a street corner just wouldn't stop talking to me. She was saying something over and over again. I couldn't actually understand her, as her speech was slurred. I finally helped this poor thing into my car and drove her to where I thought she
had said she wanted to go -- to see a cockfight. Unfortunately, the sentence she kept repeating didn't actually include the word "fight." I quickly drove her back to the same location we started at. She met up with her roommate -- and if you still believe what I am saying -- she and her roommate stumbled across the street to a local bar, and at gunpoint, forced the owner to keep the drinks coming until both young women eventually passed out. By this time they both started to resemble Elvis -- you know, a bloated face with an unnatural hair color. Anyway, a short time later, a young Puerto Rican businessman, who had witnessed the entire "show," did the gentlemanly thing -- having a taxi take them both safely to their hotel. As it turned out, her "roommate" was actually a complete stranger she had met earlier that morning as they woke up. Now, 30+ years later, I can remember all of this as if it were yesterday. Although we have kept in touch over the years, writing to each other from time-to-time, my friend Maureen, now an accomplished writer, remembers our day in San Juan very differently -- here's a sample of her version: «My spring break experiences were grisly. One year I went to San Juan, where a young Puerto Rican businessman I met at a cockfight tried to insist that I give him sexual favors because he once dated a girl who dated Elvis, and where my roommate and I got kicked out of a bar at gunpoint because some señoritas de la noche thought we were encroaching on their territory» I decided this week that I would copy my friend's writing style, including these first paragraphs, which have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this weeks subject -- just like she did in her recent article "In Cancún, Girls Gone Mild." Just like they used to say on the old Monty Python TV series -- "AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT" . . . - Innovation SAVES LIVES . . . Puerto Rico could easily reduce the number of people killed in motor vehicle-related accidents by 60 - 80% over a period of 10 years IF THE PEOPLE IN POWER WANTED TO. It's really that simple. If they wanted to -- they could -- if they NEVER DO -- it's because THEY DO NOT WANT TO. They're either afraid or lazy OR BOTH. Puerto Rico can however, be proud of people like José Delgado Ortiz, Norman Ramírez Rivera and Cristóbal Colón Ruiz -- who not only GET IT -- but who are attempting to accomplish some BIG THINGS for everyone on the Island. When I say it could be done easily -- the easy part is creating the programs to achieve RESULTS. The difficult part is getting EVERYONE on the same team, thinking the same way, convinced this is what will work and what the majority of people will put up with. If you could show people TODAY that an 80% reduction in deaths were realized in the year 2015, who wouldn't sign on? The answer is NO ONE. At least, that's my answer. The problem seems to lie within the time it will take to achieve these results -- or the lack of faith in results ever be achieved. If this were all handled correctly in the past 10 to 20 years, this week's commentary would be about Gloria Trevi or something equally unimportant. Actually, there wouldn't be any commentary -- at least none from me. When a nation can control it's deaths on the road -- everything else seems to fall into place -- because of ALL THE MECHANISMS IN PLACE, working to solve a lot more than just one major social problem. Here are some innovative, COMMON SENSE programs that, if implemented, would go a long way in making Puerto Rico the SAFEST place to drive anywhere in the world . . . - Early, long-term, continued, comprehensive DRIVERS EDUCATION . . . For some people, specifically kids, all that is needed in learning how to drive a car is the usual high-school drivers education classes. In a two-month period, a couple of hours a week for eight weeks, teens are EAGER to learn how to properly drive a car. That's what they think and that's what many think. What actually occurs, IN TOO MANY CASES, is that these teens learn how to pass a written test and their actual on-the-road test. Immediately after they pass both tests and are handed their coveted plastic card -- it's, IN TOO MANY CASES, whatever they want to do, until they get caught OR WORSE. An early, long-term, continued, comprehensive DRIVERS EDUCATION program will help eliminate most of the IN TOO MANY CASES. Drivers education should begin in kindergarten and end at whatever age a group of professionals determine when someone is TOO OLD to continue operating a motor vehicle. In kindergarten, a school teacher could easily discuss safety issues, specifically determining whether or not each child has parents who place them in the proper child safety seats -- drive at a moderate speed and NEVER leave them in the car alone and unsupervised. As these same children move up to first grade and beyond -- a group of experts in the fields of education and car safety would develop a specific age-appropriate curriculum. By the time a child reaches 13-years-old, one way to KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL would be to offer them a more comprehensive drivers education program. These UNDERAGE drivers, who show up for school EVERY DAY and maintain ACCEPTABLE GRADES, could actually get behind the wheel of a car ONCE IN A WHILE and UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS with a PROFESSIONAL in an ASSIGNED, SAFE AREA take a spin around the block and learn how to drive SLOWLY, BUT SURELY. I don't believe this would encourage kids to take the keys to their parent's car and drive whenever and wherever they wanted to -- THINKING they already knew how to drive -- THEY CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW if they wanted to. An earned PRIVILEGE would teach them, that with hard work -- comes OPPORTUNITIES. I believe this would act as a deterrent in dropping out of school and more importantly realize that learning to drive a car safely is something that will take MANY YEARS and not just a couple of classes. NOT everyone who may share the same chronological age has the same MENTAL AGE to get behind a couple of thousand pounds of metal, glass and rubber. Part of ANY SUCCESSFUL drivers education program should include letters of recommendation from teachers, neighbors, community leaders and/or clergy -- AND A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION before any license is issued. Drivers education would CONTINUE for EVERYONE through their 25th birthday with written tests and on-the road tests EVERY YEAR to satisfy everyone they are QUALIFIED to drive a motor vehicle safely. Each year when renewing their license -- there would be a review of their previous year's performance. From age 25 - 70, for example, drivers would take written tests and on-the road tests every 4 years if they wish to continue driving. From age 70 and up, the written tests and on-the road tests would be scheduled once again on a yearly basis. The actual ages would be determined by those people who are the experts and qualified to make such determinations. Everyone who wanted to drive AND CONTINUE DRIVING in Puerto Rico would be RESPONSIBLE for the costs of divers education and license renewals. - Puerto Rico's STATE-OF-THE-ART safe driving website . . . A comprehensive, state-of-the-art SAFE DRIVING website that contains EVERY POSSIBLE bit of information that people from ages 4 through 104 can learn from and DEPEND ON to give them the best information currently available to survive the roads of the Island. From sample driving tests -- to the actual laws and regulations -- to renewing licenses or purchasing "marbetes" online, etc., etc., etc., having ONE GIANT COMMUNITY on the same team LEARNING in the convenience of their home, office or classroom. Within minutes of a recall of a car, truck or SUV being announced -- CRITICAL information would be posted on the site. Those registering at no cost with the site can have this CRITICAL INFORMATION sent to them by e-mail, cell phone or pager. If a 2004 Dodge Durango has been recalled because there have been many reports of fires occurring within the engine or the tires are inferior or FOR ANY OTHER REASON -- I WANT TO KNOW THAT immediately so that I can protect myself and my loved-ones. When Puerto Rico has such a site available for everyone -- it will be the most comprehensive Spanish-language car safety website in the U.S. -- Corporate advertising and sponsorships would pay for this MAJOR project, that is SO DESPERATELY needed. - Much STRICTER LAWS and HEFTY FINES . . . Driving a motor vehicle is a PRIVILEGE and NOT a right. The strictest laws will stop bad driving in its tracks. Those who cannot comply with the laws, will quickly lose their PRIVILEGE or move somewhere else. Those who don't worry too much with the prospect of POSSIBLY getting caught and paying a fine, WILL WORRY A LOT and DRIVE SAFELY, FOLLOWING THE LAWS, when instead of a judge handing down a small fine -- they hand out a bank loan-type payment booklet where an INCREDIBLE fine can and will be paid OVER A PERIOD OF TIME -- many years -- affording everyone the ability to eventually pay off the fine a little at a time -- AND AT THE SAME TIME -- REMIND THEM EVERY MONTH, as they write out a check or purchase a money-order, that they will have to do A LOT better -- unless they want to eventually hand over an entire pay check to cover their "CAREFREE" way of driving. If I were able to decide what laws were enacted myself, I would create a law that would force EVERY motor vehicle throughout Puerto Rico -not including emergency vehicles- to be modified to move no faster than 65 MPH. Every new driver and every older driver would have a modified car to move no faster than 55 MPH. - Assigned-Risk ACAA rates that DETER . . . Why in the world should someone who makes a concerted effort to do EVERYTHING the correct way when it comes to driving RESPONSIBLY pay the same ACAA rates as those who drive a little less responsibly or WORSE. When ACAA rates are based on someone's driving record -- and someone with a REALLY BAD record who still has the right to operate a motor vehicle pays $1,000 - $3,000+ each year -- EVERYONE WILL EITHER DRIVE RESPONSIBLY or they will do a lot of WALKING or taking public transportation. MANDATORY full-coverage car insurance FOR EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE on the road would go a long way in getting people to WORRY a little more about the REAL bottom line -- the $$$. - Traffic signs that are a little more REALISTIC . . . In areas where there is a history of multiple accidents, a sign that says "PARE" may not be enough -- a more REALISTIC sign might read "PARE O MUERE." Another sign that tells a driver a curving road or steep incline is somewhat dangerous unless a driver reduces their speed, you might have a sign that includes a logo of a coffin with a red diagonal line through it or a skull-and-bones, similar to the logos you see on poisonous home cleaning products. A constant reminder of the REAL DANGERS would go a long way in communicating the dangers we all face while driving. - Extra precautionary measures at EVERY public and private school . . . Every public and private school, as well as every trade school and university, where there is a tremendous amount of young people throughout the day should have extra protections, insuring their safety at all times. Crossing guards are one real possibility. Another, less expensive, equally effective way to protect the weakest among us would involve scoring the roads approximately 200 - 300 feet before each school. As a motor vehicle approaches the school, it would begin to vibrate as it drives over a scored pavement. This would alert a driver that their COMPLETE AND UNDIVIDED ATTENTION is needed immediately. At each end of the school or property the school takes up -- a flashing series of lights that span the width of the road -from one sidewalk across to another- would alert people they are entering a school zone. With these two relatively simple steps -- it would be unlikely MOST people would not get the message. An electronic speed monitor, letting people see how fast or slow they are driving as well as cameras snapping the license plates of those violating the school zone laws would add to the success of this program. - A permanent series of PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS . . . Driving safety begins at home, should continue in school and should definitely FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO. PSAs are the way to achieve 100% coverage of every man, woman and child on the Island with hundreds of CREATIVE, INFLUENTIAL messages every year. If you go to a website -- THERE'S A PSA, if you go to a movie theater -- THERE'S A PSA, if you go to a newspaper -- THERE'S A PSA, If you go to a TV -- THERE'S A PSA, if you go to a radio -- THERE'S A PSA, if you go to a cell phone or pager or are on line at Grande or Pitusa or if you are on a train or bus or in a taxi or buying dinner at Chili's or Sizzler or McDonald's or at the beach or at Andy's in Isla Verde or at the El Conquistador Hotel and Casino or in Sears or Wal-Mart or ANYWHERE -- THERE'S A PSA -- warning and educating everyone on the dangers of NOT driving safely. A PSA in a movie theater can have CONTENT -- including images and language -- EQUAL to the rating and content of a movie. A movie rated "G" will offer an age-appropriate PSA. A movie rated "PG" or "PG-13" or "R" will offer content ranging from mild to extreme. Telling it LIKE IT IS -- and how it should be -- to EVERYONE -- in a way they can UNDERSTAND, IN THEIR OWN, age-appropriate LANGUAGE -- will go a LONG WAY in getting everyone on the same page by the time they begin driving -- through the time they die of OLD AGE and not wrapped around metal or on a cement or asphalt road. - Corporate RESPONSIBILITY . . . This BOMBARDMENT of POSITIVE, ANTI-OVERDRINKING MESSAGES will counteract ALL the unnecessary images of the consumption of alcohol in movies, on television, or on "cultural" specials that portray people celebrating the birth of Christ with a bottle or glass of booze "en mi país" or in any "país." ALL ALCOHOL ADVERTISING that can come in reach of anyone under the legal age of drinking should be banned -- UNLESS the same type of FACTUAL, HONEST account of alcohol's POTENTIALLY HORRIFIC side-effects are listed and mentioned as is done with ALL prescription medication advertising. Wouldn't it be great if every time someone were to receive a receipt from a store or restaurant, there was a SAFE DRIVING TIP printed along with the items purchased and their prices? Every phone bill, electric bill, cable or satellite bill, every bank statement could EASILY include a government approved SHORT MESSAGE, such as, DRIVE SAFELY, BUCKLE UP, DON'T DRIVE DRUNK, DRUGGED or DISTRACTED, etc. These messages would not cost ANYTHING to produce and would take a couple of minutes for each business to program into their systems. - Easier communication with 911 . . . Every stretch of highway in Puerto Rico should be marked every 50 feet or so with a series of numbers that are easily visible, placed on the center dividers or on utility poles. Whenever there is an EMERGENCY that requires contacting 911 -- a simple number and the name of the expressway can get the emergency personnel where they need to be QUICKER -- pinpointing the exact location. For example, the number 1124 is on a center divider or utility pole 6 feet away from an emergency. You are driving your car on the Luis A. Ferré Expressway. You stop your car or continue driving until you can safely make a call to 911 and give the operator the name of the expressway you are on PLUS the number 1124. The emergency personnel knows exactly where they have to be and the best, quickest route to get there. It's a lot better than just giving the name of the expressway and a GUESSTIMATE of where YOU THINK you might be on that road. The current, smaller, hard-to-read numbers on center-dividers on every expressway are NOT really designed for safety -- but for maintenance purposes. Many people don't even know they exist. By calling a number like 211 or 311 -- drivers or passengers can report a potentially dangerous driver and the direction they are heading -- or a suspicious and/or abandoned car -- a broken light post -- a large pot hole or another type of dangerous situation -- PINPOINTING THE PROBLEM with an ID number. If a couple of hundred callers are reporting the same problem in the same general area -- DTOP would be able to send out a maintenance crew to address the problem immediately. These calls could be made by cell phone -- when it is safe for the driver to do so -- or the report can be called in later on, after a driver stops their vehicle. - License plates that can SAVE A LIFE or CATCH A CRIMINAL . . . Every motor vehicle should be required to have 2 license plates -- one on the front and one on the back. This can help people quickly IDENTIFY a problem driver. Each license plate should have the name of the city of registration on it. If someone hits a car or a person and tries to flee the scene of the crime -- someone would be able to better read the "tabilla," and at least report to police -- that the car in question was a red, 2005 Mitsubishi Diamonte, with the partial tag number AKC-***, registered in Bayamón. In almost every state, a comprehensive personalized license plate program is in effect. From a simple license plate with a name -- or a phrase -- or a favorite word -- to a specific, professional sports team logo or a logo identifying a profession, civic group or military affiliation, etc. Personalized license plates offered at a reasonable price could help offset the cost of providing the safest roads on the Island. Corporate advertising and/or logo placement could bring in a lot of money needed to achieve the overall goal of fewer accidents AND fewer deaths on the road. - An electronic "BUENA CONDUCTA" certificate . . . Since it's 2005 and since everyone needs to have a "BUENA CONDUCTA" certificate when applying for a job -- Puerto Rico should have an updated version of this useful law enforcement tool. Instead of a paper certificate with a photograph and a "sello," the modern certificate would be the size and shape of a credit card, made out of the same material as a credit card. It would have a photograph of each individual -- similar to a drivers license and it would have a magnetic strip on the back that can be swiped through a credit card-type terminal you find everywhere credit cards are accepted. As far as I know, Puerto Rico is the only place in the U.S. that has a "BUENA CONDUCTA" certificate. This information contained within the background check from the police department -- that gives an employer the heads-up of whether or not someone has a criminal past -- would be TRANSFERRED from the paper version to the credit card-type version. The same card over a period of years could and would be updated automatically, if and when necessary -- and each time a change or addition is made, the next time it is swiped, the information would be current and accurate. There would be a wide variety of additional, practical uses beyond employment in having such a card with CURRENT INFORMATION that is readily-accessible. For example, if someone is arrested for beating their wife or girlfriend or anyone else and they are released on bail pending the outcome of their trial -- THE LAST THING THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IS ALCOHOL. If they are already serving a jail sentence for such a crime and will shortly be released, when they actually leave jail, THE LAST THING THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IS ALCOHOL until such a time they are deemed responsible enough to do so by mental health professionals and law enforcement. Every bar, nightclub, entertainment venue -- ESPECIALLY THOSE FREQUENTED BY YOUNG PEOPLE -- should be able to admit only those citizens who possess a clean "BUENA CONDUCTA" card -- insuring that only those patrons inside each establishment are currently in good standing with the justice system. For those citizens who have a drunk or drugged driving record -- THE LAST THING THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PURCHASE IS ALCOHOL. When anyone proceeds to purchase any alcoholic product at ESSO or PONDEROSA or PUEBLO XTRA or ANYWHERE LIQUOR IS SOLD -- the card would be swiped and an instant report or code would appear within the electronic terminal's LED screen telling the employee whether or not they were allowed to sell the alcoholic product to that particular customer. Every child in Puerto Rico 13-years-old or entering 7th grade would apply for and receive a "BUENA CONDUCTA" card -- and if while they are waiting to reach the legal age for consuming alcohol they are caught doing so before time -- they will be prevented from purchasing alcohol beyond the legal age as a deterrent. A junior "BUENA CONDUCTA" card could have additional uses beyond alcohol, including, but not limited to finishing school through at least 12th grade. There are an unlimited number of practical uses for such a card for people of all ages -- but just like with any type of system designed to prevent tragedies from occurring, THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MANY WAYS to beat the system. DACO could employ a small army of investigators to patrol and fine any business that would knowingly violate such a system by selling alcoholic products to those who do not have valid "BUENA CONDUCTA" card. Every business that sells alcohol in Puerto Rico would pay for any electronic terminal needed to scan the "BUENA CONDUCTA" card AND pay a small portion of their gross sales on all alcoholic products TO FUND SUCH AN ISLAND-WIDE program. Just like when DACO enters KB Toys or Wal-Mart at 5:30 in the morning the day after Thanksgiving to insure that there is a sufficient number of Barbie Dolls for $12.95 -- as advertised at the start of the Christmas / Three Kings season -- an army of investigators would do the same thing 24/7/365 regarding the sale of alcohol to people PROHIBITED from purchasing it. VIOLATORS WOULD PAY A HEFTY FINE AND/OR LOSE THEIR LIQUOR LICENSE. In tourist areas throughout the Island, anyone who is a tourist attempting to purchase alcohol -- would automatically have their own state or country drivers license with them and would be able to make their purchase WITHOUT a "BUENA CONDUCTA" card. Every hotel issuing a guest card would make a notation of a Puerto Rico, out-of-state or out-of-country drivers license each guest registers with initially. The main idea behind this program is to PREVENT as many people as possible from drinking alcohol when they clearly should not be doing so. THOSE WHO SHOULD NOT BE DRINKING ALCOHOL, WILL HAVE TO WORK OVERTIME, EVERY TIME they want to purchase an alcoholic product, by taking a much longer route to beat the system. This program will be very effective -- if for no other reason than by SENDING A CLEAR MESSAGE TO EVERY KID AS TO WHAT THEY CAN EXPECT, in the future, if they take the wrong route while growing up. The key phrase -- GROWING UP. Not everyone does -- THANKS TO THE WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE DRIVE.
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EL NUEVO DÍA I PRIMERA HORA I VOLANDO ALTO I ZONAi I VIDA DIGITAL I PR WOW I CIBER PAPI