The regions with the most infractions were Tarapacá and Los Lagos. The penalties reach $ 23 thousand. From the Congress they request urgency to legislate on obligation of the use of this pledge. From the Region of Arica to Magellan, the norm that forces the wearing of the reflective vest in the safety kit of all motorized vehicles inspected, according to data given by Carabineers to the National Traffic Safety Commission.
More than eight million controls carried out Carabineers during 2016; of these, 556 people fined for not complying with the regulations, with the Tarapacá and Los Lagos regions leading the ranking of infractions (168 and 128, respectively). Fines taken range from $ 9,200 to $ 23,000.
It should remembered that the measure had a controversial debate; both in the authorities and in social networks, for the obligation to be yellow, made of fluorescent material and have bands of retro reflective material with a width of not less than 50 mm.
The deputy Leopold Perez noted, “Although the infractions are few compared to the total number of audits, it is noteworthy that a high percentage is concentrated in regions such as Tarapacá and Los Lagos. He talks about the need to spread awareness campaigns in all corners of Chile. ”
At that point, the parliamentarian urged the legal initiative to make the use of the reflective vest mandatory. “I requested a balance, because it is necessary that we know the impact that this measure has generated on people and I want to insist that it is not enough to keep it inside the car, the vest must be used.”
The president of the Commission of Transports of the House of Representatives, Mario Vinegars, indicated, “If the fines are few, it is because the immense majority fulfilled the spirit of the norm. Several of us suggested that the measure by a legal modification, to give it strength, but I think that although it is important to process it, I do not think it is urgent. ”
For the public affairs manager of Automobile Club of Chile, Alberto Escobar, the figures “coincide with studies we have done in the regions of Los Lagos and Tarapacá, which show that they are rather refractory to road safety regulations, not I know if because they are more relaxed. In general, the numbers seem good to me, considering an automotive park of more than four million cars. ”
Regarding the obligation to use the security garment, the expert indicated, “it is interesting, but it would take at least a year, and if we are going to dedicate that time to a project, I would push the idea of the automated infraction center, so that we have electronic control of the speed.