ALAI, América Latina en Movimiento
2010-01-28
Brasil
Brazilian highways – destination death
Frei Betto
The recent tragedies in Angra dos Reis, São Luiz do Paraitinga and the bridge that washed away on the Jacui River in Agudos in the state of Rio Grande do Sul do not compare with the most horrendous Brazilian catastrophe provoked by the negligence of public authorities: the deaths on our highways.
In 2008, according to the Ministry of Health, traffic accidents took the lives of 36,666 people – the equivalent of 100 deaths a day! During the past seven years the victims added up to 247,722. During the same period 62,000 people died in Iraq, almost four times fewer than the number of deaths on Brazilian highways.
Our country is the champion in regard to traffic deaths. It is in the state of Minas Gerais that most fatal accidents occur (3,723 deaths in 2007 and 3,682 in 2008 according to the Ministry of Health).
Last year during the Independence Day long weekend between 4th and 7th September 2,329 accidents were reported with 97 dead and 1,487 injured. On the long weekend of Nossa Senhora Aparecida between 9th and 12th October there were 2,217 accidents - 88 dead and 1,389 injured. On All Souls’ long weekend between 30th October and 2nd November there were 1,901 accidents with 93 dead and 1,170 injured (Federal Highway Police Data).
The Federal Highway Police New Year Operation reported 455 deaths on federal highways between 31st December 2009 and 1st January 2010.
The DNIT (National Department for Transport Infrastructure) – the golden goose of the companies that specialise in highway construction and maintenance – is responsible for the quality of our highway system. It knows its failings well - lack of signposting, insufficient speed control, precarious paving of the roads, insufficient radar and electronic monitoring - but is not able to repair them.
Our federal highways cover 56,000 Km of paved roads. Of these 18,000 (32.1%) present serious faults, for example signposting for dangerous bends, speed limits and no-overtaking signs. Impunity reigns for drivers who break the law. Do you know anyone whose driving licence was revoked for having turned his or her vehicle into a war weapon? Do you know anyone who was jailed for causing serious accidents? Have you ever seen the Dry Law applied on the highways?
Brazil boasts that it sells three million cars a year (in a country which is seriously deficient in public transport). How many driving licences are granted thanks to the Brazilian “jeitinho”[1]? Vehicles are becoming more powerful but less resistant. Any crash seems to turn them into paper. In the hands of irresponsible youth fascinated with Formula One heroes, they become lethal weapons.
Bars and restaurants on the highways continue to sell unrestricted alcoholic drinks. Traffic control is precarious. Do you know any driver who, on the roads, has never been asked for money in lieu of paying a fine? Some time ago I mistakenly drove in the wrong direction on a road under construction. The policeman stood arrogantly by my door “So, my friend, did you see the violation you committed back there? Where are your documents?” He looked at them carefully and said “What about the infraction?” I could see what he was thinking of – his pocket. I indignantly replied “There are only two solutions, either you fine me or you let me go. I would not like to be in your shoes for the third one” I bluffed. The man stood at attention, saluted and, terrified, let me go saying “Go ahead, Commander”.
Brazil is the only country in the world that awards prizes for what is an obligation. Listen to this: the 2947 DNIT employees earn extra if they work for the community. The privilege, at a cost to the taxpayer, is known as BESP (Special Bonus for Institutional Performance) and was proposed by the government and approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 28th October 2009.
It is paid in one installment by June 2010 and consists of R$28,700 for those who hold high level jobs; R$12,290 for intermediary jobs and R$3,230 for the lower level. The impact on the budget for 2010 is calculated to be R$33 million. The bonus is a prize given in advance in order to accelerate the works of the PAC (Programme for the Acceleration of Growth) during this election year.
Human beings are a special breed: they are horrified with death when it comes wholesale: twin towers, plane crashes, landslides in Angra… They are insensitive if the Grim Reaper acts in the retail cutting down lives in much larger numbers than those of sudden catastrophes: traffic, hunger, curable diseases and assassinations (close to 40 million per year in Brazil).
Our roads will be safe when the collusion between public servants and private enterprise is punished and the preservation of the life of travellers is above pecuniary and election interests.
Until the next victim…
( Translation: Helen Hughes)
[1] “Jeitinho” – an astute, crafty, agile way to obtain or achieve and get away with something.
*Frei Betto is a Brazilian writer, author of “A arte de semear estrelas” (The Art of Sowing Stars) (Rocco).
Copyright 2010 by Frei Betto - Without prior authorization, the reproduction of this article is forbidden by either electronic or printed means. Contact: MHP – Literary Agents (E-mail: mhpal@terra.com.br)
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