Costa Ricans often choose buses to get to work, college or tourisms destinations.
As part of the public transport fleet, these buses must undergo a Vehicle Technical Review (RTV) twice a year. 59% of them approve in the first inspection, however, this does not mean they are in good condition.
According to RTV, most buses fail the review due to failures in brakes, tire wear and greenhouse gas emissions, all “serious” offenses. Two of them represent an imminent danger to users.
Costa Rican buses are the second vehicle group that approves the technical review after the first inspection. However, student transportation usually has to repeat it.
The technical review allows to know the state of the buses, but the most important part is prevention, in terms of road safety, to ensure that a vehicle is safe to drive and to carry many individuals. And this is the owner’s responsibility,”
said Jennifer Guzmán, a spokeswoman for RTV.
The main bus flaw in Costa Rica is imbalanced brakes. Guzmán explained that this could cause the vehicle to skid, exit the highway and rollovers.
The second main flaw is tire wear, which Guzmán described as unacceptable, since it can be noticed by the naked eye.
Finally, according to Mario Chacón, head of the Special Operations Group (GOE) of the Traffic Police, bus drivers also endanger passengers by over-crowding the bus, allowing people to travel in the doors of the vehicle, filling the tank with passengers inside and not closing the doors while on the road.
This not a call to avoid using the bus, but to report irregularities that could endanger your life.