QCOSTARICA — The Costa Rica Cruz Roa (Red Cross) reported last week that one in five (20%) of the emergencies attended by first responders in Costa Rica are traffic accidents. These statistics emerge as part of an urgent plea: road accidents are preventable, the Red Cross maintains. So far in 2025 (with statistics provided through Thursday, June 5), 1,285 people involved in traffic accidents were transferred in critical condition to a medical center, and 245 died at the scene of the accident. The Red Cross says traffic accidents are preventable. In the call for prevention, the Red Cross released a video offering the following tips: Drive responsibly. Do not consume substances that impair your senses. Do not use cell phones while driving. Always wear seatbelts (drivers and passengers) in the vehicle. Also, use appropriate safety restraints for infants and children. Respect speed limits and road signs. “Your family is waiting for you; don’t risk your life due to carelessness. At the Red Cross, we want you to get home safely and not find yourself in an emergency you could have avoided. Drive safely, arrive alive,” is the message from the Red Cross. Slight drop in May; the first in 9 months Last week, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) revealed that last month (May) ended with the lowest number of fatalities at the scene of traffic accidents of all of 2025 and the previous 9 months. Authorities recorded 38 fatalities in the month. The Traffic Police described the data as a relief due to the trend that had continued since August 2024 when in that month there were 34 deaths, but since then the figures have been higher than 40. “It’s a relief from several perspectives, not only because the numbers are going down, but because it breaks a trend that was worrying,” commented Oswaldo Miranda, director of the Policia de Transito (Traffic Police0. In the first months of 2025, this was the pattern: January: 52 deaths February: 50 deaths March: 72 deaths April: 44 deaths Motorcyclists continue to be the most affected Despite the slight decrease in the number, authorities are urging increased precautions to ensure the improvement is sustained. They also emphasize that motorcyclists and young people are the most affected. Of the 38 deaths in May, 20 were motorcyclists, which is more than half (53%) of the monthly fatalities. So far this year, 138 of the 256 victims (54% ) have lost their lives on motorcycles. Meanwhile, automobiles have the second highest incidence of deaths, with 30 so far this year. Leading Causes of Fatal Accidents The four leading causes of fatal accidents are: Speeding – 84 deaths Wandering into the Oncoming Lane – 58 deaths Driver Recklessness – 37 deaths Pedestrian Recklessness – 31 deaths Miranda made a special appeal to pedestrians. “We also have responsibilities. We must use pedestrian overpasses, walk on sidewalks, and cross in safe areas.” Who dies most and when? According to official MOPT data, the most dangerous time slots are: 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. (90 deaths) 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. (73) Mornings: 51 Afternoons: 42 By age, the breakdown of road accident deaths hits the younger population hardest: 21 to 30 years: 84 deaths 31 to 40 years: 52 41 to 50 years: 35 By sex, the deaths in 2025 are divided into 220 men and 36 women. The Traffic Police called for extreme caution, especially with the approaching mid-year school holidays and the Cartago pilgrimage in August, which significantly increase vehicular and pedestrian traffic on the country’s roads.