Representatives from the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS), along with officials from the Pan American Health Organization, the Ministry of Public Health, the Department of Transit of the National Civil Police, Municipal Transit Police, COPRESAN, ONSET, and Volunteer Firefighters met as part of the Technical Interinstitutional Road Safety Board to address road safety concerns during December.
Dr. Mynor Mejía, head of the Safety and Hygiene Section at IGSS, presented updated figures on road accidents and outlined preventive measures to be reinforced in December. He stated that these efforts are necessary due to an expected increase in travel, alcohol consumption, and distractions while driving during the holiday season.
Statistics from Hospital General de Accidentes Ceibal show 29,839 emergency treatments so far this year. Of these cases, 27,134 involved motorcyclists—making them the most vulnerable group for traffic incidents. The months of March, July, and October saw the highest peaks in incidents. Authorities noted that such trends often rise further at year-end.
“These data reflect the high road risk faced by the population,” said Dr. Mejía. He emphasized strengthening prevention efforts during December when risk factors typically intensify.
During their meeting, participating organizations highlighted how media outlets play a key role in spreading prevention messages and raising awareness about essential practices: obeying speed limits, wearing helmets, avoiding drunk driving, and checking vehicles before traveling.
The institutions agreed that reducing traffic accidents requires both interagency coordination and individual commitment to responsible habits. They reiterated that prevention is crucial for saving lives during holiday festivities.
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