A weapon on two wheels

"I remember perfectly how it was and the strong pain I felt. I overtook a vehicle about to reach a corner and from the other direction came another that could not stop and took me ahead. I went to stop for another car that was parked. I remember everything, I could see my body split in two and at that moment I still felt it, but now I do not ", is the heartrending testimony of M.V.T., a young man who is now 22 years old.

The reason why he remembers everything with great detail and for which he did not lose his life is that he wore the protective helmet, as he admits it. "That saved my life. And because of that, I tell everyone to wear the helmet, I know that sometimes it bothers because it's hot or things like that, but that can make a difference. Do not take, do not drive at an exaggerated speed. "he adds.

He is one of the 62,000 injured (2017) in traffic accidents and left with serious sequels (about 300 annually), since he cannot move lower limbs and perhaps he will not be able to do it anymore. According to data, the majority are young people who are disabled in full productive age.

There are 1,200 deaths per year in traffic accidents at the country level. Of them, 50% are motorcyclists. Up to 13,000 injured in motorcycles annually arrive at the Trauma Hospital, of which at least 2,000 have traumatic brain injuries. "Those who do not have the luck to die, are left with the consequences. That is, a person who is in a bed cannot move, is full of bedsores and dies infected at six months because in their homes they do not have the infrastructure to take care of patients with these characteristics, " said of the healthcare center, Dr. Hannibal in this regard. Between 80 and 100 patients are those who remain in these conditions every year after leaving discharge.

A new study, disclosed these days by the Touring and Automobile Club, realizes that this reality is not just national, but also regionally. The analysis that was conducted, in addition to Paraguay, in Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay and Colombia, reveals that more than 30% of motorcyclists in those countries do not use the helmet correctly.

"This means that they carry it by the elbow, as a visor, loose, hit or held back. The majority takes it by the arm ", says Wilfred, head of Education and Road Safety of the Touring, regarding the Paraguayan motorcyclists, since our country is the one that has the highest index of helmet misuse among the six countries that they were taken as a reference, with 34.5%. In the case of Paraguay, 3,800 motorcyclists were analyzed.

"Another high index in relation to the other countries is the non-use of reflective clothing. The legislation requires the motorcyclist to wear the reflective vest on national and international routes. "he recalls, referring to Law No. 5016" National Traffic and Road Safety ".

DRIVING SCHOOL FOR MOTORCYCLISTS?

A fact that Jimenez highlights is that Paraguay has the peculiarity that 100% of motorcyclists drive empirically, "because there is not a single school of motorcycle driving in our country that is enabled. People learn to drive on their own, through friends, parents or watching. There is no school registered or qualified for the teaching of responsible motorcycle driving. "he says.

In the Paraguayan case, there is only a kind of "familiarization" that the companies that sell the motorcycle do. "In the framework of their social responsibility program, they train those who buy the motorcycle, which is more familiar than a driving school", he says.

As he points out, the study showed that the most frequent infractions committed by Paraguayan motorcyclists are the traffic between lanes. "Motorcycles are one more vehicle, therefore motorcyclists must go inside the lanes, and not a zigzag way," he explains. Other frequent faults are the overtaking of the right and the circulation by sidewalks.

WHAT THE CURRENT LAW SAYS

The law with current validity and that regulates this type of infractions is 5016/14 and speaks about motorcycles in the following articles:

Article 75.- Circulation along the sidewalks. The circulation of mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles and motorbikes on the sidewalks and public walks destined exclusively for pedestrians is prohibited.

Article 76.- Mandatory use of a helmet and reflective vest. The occupants of mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, quadricycles and forklifts, must wear the standard and standard helmet that covers the entire head, with the exception of the face. The helmet must have reflective material and the registration number of the motorcycle engraved on the lower external part. In addition, it must be properly secured by the retaining strap or fastened chinstrap.

According to data provided by the Highway Patrol, in the case of the fines themselves, driving without a helmet means a fine of G. 893,772 and the same amount is for those who do not use the reflective vest.

For passing the maximum speed limit, there are three levels of fines: between 11 to 20km / h: G. 325.008; between 21 to 30km / h: G. 568,764; and between 31km / h and more G. 812,520.

Circular through the trails is subject to a fine of G. 406.260, considering that these spaces are exclusively for the movement of pedestrians.

The overtaking on the right is fine with G. 812.520 and the circulation between lanes is sanctioned with G. 325.008.

TO CHANGE THIS REALITY...

For Jimenez, there are still a lot of commitment from the authorities to make drivers aware.

As the main point to take into account indicates "the issuance of the license is made with very shallow requirements, only with a theoretical examination, being that the law requires to make an examination to determine the fitness of the driver, which includes a theoretical test, a practical test and a psychophysics test. It should also be considered that the license must be granted according to the displacements and our law does not contemplate that. "

He recalled that before the high death figures in recent years, in addition to the large number of injured and left with serious sequels, the only alternative is to continue insisting on the need to use the helmet, and above all the respect of the speeds maximum. "In urban areas it should be 40 to 50km / h (as established by the municipal authority) and in rural areas it is 110km / h," he stresses.

"The helmet is the main protective element for motorcyclists; however, 3 out of 10 motorcycle riders in the region use it incorrectly. This should urge us to reinforce prevention and awareness campaigns to seek to reduce road death rates. "recommends Pablo, Head of Road Safety and the Environment of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

Traffic education and all-day school

As a cooperation partner in all-day schools, she is in great demand. Either Othman, press spokesman of the Federal Association, explains in an interview how good traffic and mobility education should look like.

Online-Redaction: Mr. Othman, which tasks do the German Traffic Watched take over?

Either Othman: Since its founding in 1924, Deutsche has set itself the goal of making mobility on German roads safer and reducing the number of accident victims. Our programs are aimed at all age groups from kindergartens to seniors. One area is traffic education, where children should learn basic rules of behavior. The association also understands "traffic education" as "mobility education" and, most importantly, the promotion of physical activity. We try to promote the cognitive and motor skills of the road users as early as possible so that they can move safely in traffic.

One of the most important elements of road safety work at school is the 3rd or 4th grade cycling training. Another area is traffic education, which informs people about which rules apply and how they can adapt their behavior on the road to avoid accidents and protect lives. A third area is driving safety training for bicycles, cars, motorbikes and trucks. The ideal we strive for is accident-free traffic, the "Vision Zero". Realistically, the path is the goal.

Online Editorial: How is your association organized?

Othman: There are 14 employees working here in Berlin at the Federal Office. We are active nationwide with 16 regional associations and over 600 districts, district and local traffic guards. The work there is mainly done by around 60,000 volunteers. In addition to our own projects and actions, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure supports various target group programs, which are mainly implemented by our local associations.

Online editors: The new school year has begun, a sensitive time when many first graders are on the way. How does the Deutsche help to provide more security here?

Othman: On the one hand it's about visibility. We make children and parents aware that they wear bright clothing, safety vests and school bags with reflective fabrics. Since 2003, our Medium & Service GmbH has been organizing the uniform nationwide campaign for the beginning of school under the motto "Stop it! - School has started ". Then, reflective baseball caps which made of reflective materials are distributed to school beginners. In addition, straps and school posters affixed to the public eye are intended to sensitize motorists that they drive particularly slowly, with foresight and with respect for the young schoolchildren. Our stickers for cars, busses and trains and leaflets with information for parents also announce this. Added to this are countless initiatives and brochures on site and the work of school and bus drivers.

It is important to us that the children not only learn traffic rules and recognize traffic signs, but also train their attentiveness, movement and coordination skills. That means abstracting situations and estimating danger. This begins with the way to school, which the parents have to practice intensively with the children at the beginning. To do this, they take a suitable route together and discuss processes and danger points with their children. Not the fastest way to school is the right one, but the safest. Some schools support this with school itineraries. On this topic, we and many traffic guard on site information about the right school-leaving training.

There are also youth traffic schools operated by traffic guards, in which pupils can practice their bicycles in a sheltered area. Here they also train coordination and balance, concentration and the assessment of traffic situations.

Online editors: Not infrequently, the parents themselves endanger the children by the fetch and bring chaos in front of the school building...

Othman: The traffic guards work to ensure that the parents do not drive their children to school, but let the students go their own way if this is possible without danger. This gives them important learning experience for independent traffic participation and strengthens their motor skills. We cannot ban anything, but we want to raise awareness and point out alternatives to the parent taxi. Some traffic guards look at where to set up pick-up and drop-off zones near the school that does not pose a threat to the students.

Oise: coach drivers revise their ranges

For three days, 180 drivers from the company attend a training course on safety and road safety, to prepare for the start of the school year. The first day took place on Tuesday, at the Amblainville site.

Hughes adjusts his seat, adjusting the height of his steering wheel. Facing him, a route drawn with studs awaits him. To guide him, a trainer makes signs to him, a yellow reflective vest on the shoulders. Despite his ten years of seniority, the driver will touch a stud during a maneuver. "As long as it's bowling, it's okay," said the 45-year-old. If it had been a pedestrian, he would have hurt his feet. "

On the program, three workshops. One, security. The other, driving. And a last for drivers to learn about their new circuits. A way to prepare for the start of the school year that is approaching, and to review its fundamentals.

After two months of vacation, you have to do the right things

The man with the high visibility vest is Jean-Luc, trainer for sixteen years. "The driver, after two months off during the school holidays, may have forgotten some mastery in driving," he says.

Jonathan, who passed his license D just a year ago, is very much in favor of this initiative. "It allows," he says, "to have advice from more experienced people. He himself admits it: he still has some progress to make certain points. "For example, I know I tend to stick too much to the shoreline (which separates the shoulder from the road, Editor's note)," he says. "The most important thing, before you start your service, is to take a ride to check your vehicle, and it can happen that you forget, and you also have to put a vest with reflective material in your car." says Gary, 32.

This day can also accommodate changes that can occur from one return to another. Such as the speed limit of 80km / h, on a part of the departmental roads, entered into force this year. What lengthen the circuit time. "I'm going to have modifications on my line," says Gerard, who makes the trip Visors-Beauvais, morning and evening. "We will have to be careful not to arrive late," he continues. Two more days of internship will follow, Wednesday and Thursday, this time on the site of Beauvais.