A Traffic Advisory From A Chiriquí Chatter Reader
Jun 5th, 2007 by Don Ray
I just received the following email:
Dear Mr. Williams,
When driving either way along Ave. 8a Oeste (the one perpendicular to KFC), please be especially careful at the intersection with Calle Central (or, Dr. Ernesto Pérez Balladares St.). The latter has a recently asphalt-paved section between the Interamerican Highway and Chiriqui Hospital. Since “la Calle de la Muerte” runs through David from East to West, and this new section is parallel to that one, it is quite easy to feel confused and get involved on a triple crash, like the one that already occurred at that point.
Would you please post this on my behalf so that we all make our best efforts to avoid a “Calle de la Muerte No. 2.” I already e-mailed Mr. Ramon Guerra, Radio Chiriquí, on this issue.
Best regards,
Hilda
Hilda I ended up on that new road yesterday and found myself sailing through a stop sign hidden behind a tree. It is one the first or second street after the Interamerican, you might also suggest someone trim that overgrown tree.
Hi Lee. Yes that is a big problem on all the streets that have stop signs at each corner. It is worse on this street now because of the resurfaced area it is too easy to get to going to fast and as you say the stop signs are all hidden.
Dear friends,
You´re both right. I had an experience quite similar to that of Mr. Zeltzer: I was driving down my street ( 8a Oeste), and then to the Chiriquí Hospital. Suddenly, a car was coming quickly from the resurfaced street and, on avoiding a crash, I ended on the other lane and, fortunately, the car coming up 8a Oeste could stop too. Sure there are lots of bushes and trees intereferring with stop signs. I´ll definitely talk with some people, becasue this issue demands, noto only to talk with authorities, but raising awareness in the whole community.
Pedestrians are equally in danger: Two weeks ago, my dad, 93, was walking in front of our house on 8a Oeste and L North and there was an accident in which, thanks to the air bags, there were no fatalities. In fact, one of the cars finally crashed strongly against our neighbor´s fence on the other side of the street, just opposite to the sidewalk where my Dad was. On coming back from doing an errand, I found my maid hysterical.
Best regards,
Hilda
Good luck. I hope your contacts will do something about all the stop signs being covered by trees and bushes.
Good morning readers,
Mr. David Castillo, a lawyer in charge of the ATTT ( Traffic and Terrestrial Transportation Authority) in David, whose office is located at the Chiriqui Mall, is most probably reading the kind request I just e-mailed him “on behalf of every citizen ( including himself)” exposed to the already mentioned dangers. This is what I was adviced to do when I called “La Oficina del Tránsito”. Take care.
Thanks Hilda.