11 people died in 4 days due to collective taxi accidents in the country Statement | Panamericana Sur | Minivan | Transport | Accidents | Transport | Peru

At 6:06 am this morning, three passengers were killed when a minivan running a bus service derailed in Panamericana Sur area. Recently had a speeding ticket.

read more: Road deaths increased in seven regions after shared taxis were formalized

Twelve hours ago, on the way from Dagna to Ilo, a combined car collided with a trailer about 100 kilometers from Costanera Sur. 3 people died in this. On Monday, another collective taxi occupied the opposite lane and collided with a trailer on the central highway near Morococha in La Oroas. 5 people in the car died.

11 people died in four days. But that’s not all. On October 24, two buses collided at kilometer 27 of the Panamericana Sur in Lurin, killing two passengers and injuring eleven others. On September 7, the driver ran over a minivan carrying passengers in Arequipa, killing a passerby and escaping.

The list of victims of road accidents involving shared taxis, the impunity of an unregulated service and vehicles unfit for public transport on the road, increases with drivers without a professional license or SOAT for public service. Although the Congress of the Republic approved a law in 2020 enabling this type of transportation in the country (Act no. 28972), Confirmation of approved routes for this is still pending and not allowed to operate in metropolitan Lima and Callo..

Despite this and despite technical reasons that show the dangers of shared taxis with cars and minivans on the roads, the service continues amid confusion. After this newspaper published the news last Sunday, Deaths on roads in seven regions of the country They increased after the regularization of shared taxis. For example, in Junin and Dagna, where the two incidents mentioned above occurred, deaths increased. 158% and 100% between 2020 and 2022 respectively.

“The bus drivers have been strengthened since the law was promulgated, and now they agree with the authorities to set up informal bus stops even in metropolitan Lima, despite the ban. Today, on the route where the accident happened, most of the buses depart from Conade and Mala. In the latter, there are videos of the mayor giving their location with complete impunity. Martin Ojeda warns, Manager, National Land Transport Council.

He reiterates that while road accidents are not exclusive to compact cars, the M1 and M2 vehicles (station wagon and minivan) have a lightweight design that is not suitable for carrying passengers on the road. “They are practically unmade cans for medium and long distance transport. They are made for short distance transfers or school transport. They don’t have speed control devices like buses, much less GPS, which is why they go 140 km/h. The drivers don’t even have a license. This law has created more murderers“Ojeda insists.

The minivan had a valid ticket

The minivan involved in this morning’s fatal accident, license plate CBU-112, has a current ticket, June 26, for a mandatory charge of 1,082 soles. Violation by driver Alejandro Guattara Lorenzo, 26, M20a: driving at high speed. On that day, Gutara was traveling at a speed of 107 kmph.

According to the first investigation into today’s accident, the minivan overturned several times while covering the route from Chilca to Lima, possibly due to excessive speed. 3 passengers were thrown from the car and died instantly. Eight others were injured and taken to Villa El Salvador Emergency Hospital. Two of the injured have been assigned a prognosis due to the severity of their injuries.

The driver of the minivan fled and has not been identified.

After the tragedy, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Raul Perez ReyesThey said they were going from MDC Reinforce the test Vehicles to ensure passenger safety. “What we’re doing is maintaining and strengthening what studies are in perpetuity,” Perez Reyes said.

This year alone, four legislative initiatives were presented to Congress to replace the law authorizing shared taxis on highways. The most recent one presented by Congressman Segundo Toribio Mondalvo Cubas (Perú Libre) on December 1st specifies the requirements for cars to provide national, regional, interprovincial and interdistrict service.