Peru: more than 100 protestors arrested during transportation strike

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The riots registered this morning in several areas of Lima due to the transport strike called by various left-sector unions has left at the moment more than 100 arrested protesters, according to Julio Talledo, a public affairs prosecutor for Peru's Ministry of Interior.

The representative explained that most of these people were arrested  while generating violence during the riotings, by blocking tracks, burning tires and throwing stones at vehicles, all this in order to prevent any other transit.

Talledo confirmed that a Venezuelan citizen, identified as José Francisco Araque Cordova, was arrested during the clashes, while he was blocking a street with tacks.

The strikers are protesting against a new traffic code that sets very high fines to certain infractions.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Enrique Cornejo, said that  “to avoid being fined, the simplest thing to do is not breaking the rules."

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# Martin says :
30 June, 2009 [ 14:28 ]

Wow - looks like someone turned on the lights when the minister said that if you don't want to pay a traffic fine, simply drive correctly. Only 'idiots' believe that paying a small fine gives you the right to drive incorrectly.

# Martin says :
30 June, 2009 [ 14:32 ]

What I would really like to see is the police finally giving tickets, regardless the amount of the fine. Less talk and more action is what is needed to control the very poor driving.

# Bruno says :
30 June, 2009 [ 14:44 ]

Whatever happens, someone needs to do something about the chaotic traffic in this city. It's ridiculous in every way. Not just the buses and combis but the taxis too.

# SA says :
30 June, 2009 [ 15:39 ]

I would like to see the police actually ticket motorists and combi drivers involved and at fault in traffic accidents.
Presently it does not happen.

# jb says :
30 June, 2009 [ 16:07 ]

The director of PERU 21 summed it up quite well in his column today called "Un país combi" -- "A Combi Country".  If you read Spanish it is well worth a read: http://peru21.pe/impresa/noticia/pais-combi/2009-06-30/250286.

# More nonsense says :
30 June, 2009 [ 16:09 ]

Why would they care if the fines go to $1 million???  They don't pay them anyway.  And if the government cracks down and trys to make them pay, they call another strike.

# c.schmidt says :
30 June, 2009 [ 16:20 ]

Protests, blocked streets and again violence- when will it stop?What is happen here?- today was votacion de censure for  prime minister/interrio minister -for Bagua events
 several congresspersons from opposition are not allowed to enter- they would have prob. Vote in favor of censure like one congress member from a different opposite party told. The result will from my point of few might destabililize the  situation more.One congressman put it straight by using the word  “thriller “Who ever thinks- go on like nothing happened that it will calm down – has no wisdom in politics.Common Peruvians might think same - this votes were not reached because 7 nationalists could not vote- like mister Belaunde (AP)said at the end of congress meeting. From almost all politcial parties we listen critical words from their members with exeption of Apra party , well performed mister Bedoya, such as mister Souza (Fujimorista ) among others . also mister Bruce (one left over from Peru possible) gave a very clear and good statement  - and for an independent viewer there was a clear impression that National party after what happen in Bagua  seems to be very outspoken for bringing clarity in the events and several of their members performed  strong in interest of clean political environment and interest of common Peruvians.It is really incredible that  after so many dead people there is no demonstration of responsibility- letting go things like this thought might raise up public anger much more- I mean we seen today already again a new strike and another’s are announced for next week. Letting things like what happened in Bagua uncensored will open the door little by little for dictatorship, for eventual human right abuse – and who ever might go on  might think- one dead more or less- who counts anyhow? People from now on might get used too it? The imagines from Bagua – I never saw something like this here in all my years in Peru. Therefore under my name- It is a shame that no one takes political responsibility for this and steps voluntary aside.  What might be the next- bigger mistakes, bigger killings, eventually more bodies to hide? Who from now on guar ants it wont happen again? I am very much against to think in Right wing or left wing schemas- the thing is very simple- it is about what is right and what is wrong. Therefore is was glad that at least many opposition voices with different views were open for censorship- this persons should speak to each other – make alliances- look what they have in common in the best interest of  the country and inner peace and stability. .It is almost in the air- day by day those in charge kind of lose credibility and control among population - in congress today the word incapacity was used more than 12 times- and this is interesting- from different sides.  What I expect- quit honest I am very concern. Investors might think twice to put money here because even they evaluate the gap between raising anger on the streets which is not jet canalized.Lately I think those who pushed  for mister Garcia in charge must have exactly know that they eventually will create such scenario. I mean there were warnings about it, Why someone who according to so many failed once was brought bag into power?Is this part of a higher plan? I mean to support someone who quit obvious failed in first term and than give him a second chance - it must have been wanted that way, to keep the country poor.Meanwhile the country again seems to bleed out economically again  and at the end it will be like always- new elites will step in and will by for the lowest prize what before was expensive. And in a few years when almost al rivers are contaminated all this people who are part of this will understand that you can’t eat money- it will be too late than.They spoke today so much about democracy- I remember- and this in very general terms- many dictatorships or semi dictatorships are using democracy like a cover.Former East German dictatorship was officially a democratic republic- quit incomparable too Peru- but we are here away from well working democracy.Basement  of any democratic society is a well working justice system was civil and penal law is guaranteed.Justice does not work here in Peru according to developed country standard.Private property rights are not well defined- like when you have something and someone else is using it and not paying than there is almost no way to access your property fast- it costs month ore years, notifications don’t arrive, and brivory in general terms in very common. Same in other cases – sheeting’s, violations, steeling, abuses and so on. Middle class people lose their time and money on trials which take in modern societies month –the cash can’t move and meanwhile middle class get poorer, society shape changes and more people swift into new dependencies- at the end they even lose their properties and have to become debt slaves- A way to control societies and take freedom out. And about the mass of poor- the amount of hungry persons today in Peru was very well described from mister Meckler.  I don’t think in good or bad country schemas- - in all country we find very good and very bad persons and the battle historically until now is always the same- There seems to exist only one conflictThe conflict between tendencies of some persons or groups to have more and more and more and more and to have absolute control and on the other side the unbeatable will which is in every person to be free. If sense of freedom gets touched over the limit- than things tend to go into out handed. I hope very much that persons with commonsense analyze wisely that division is very often a way of getting control. I hope that this crisis makes person with influence speak to each other who thought that they don’t have too much to say to each other and forget a little bit about party interests and do what they have to do in the best interest of Peru and the Peruvian people. 
(My self I always was wondering what makes a person with votacion abstention?- it should be as simple like this - yes or not - congress members are elected for having an opinion about something- if they cant decide they should work as farmers or cow boys.)

# David N says :
30 June, 2009 [ 20:10 ]

Ah yes, Peru is such a lovely country...LMAO. 

Today it was great having all these yokels off the streets of Lima.  Smooth sailing without empty taxis scouring the streets for fares, or stopping in the middle of a lane to negotiate a price and load passengers.  Even better with no obnoxious combi drivers racing each other for the next person standing in the street waving one sol.

They should erase these fools from the streets and send them back to the hinterland mountain or jungle they crawled out of.

# Richard says :
30 June, 2009 [ 20:49 ]

David N

Go back to your utopian hell hole called the USA.

# Junior says :
30 June, 2009 [ 21:20 ]

David N,

Whilst it is true that driving in Lima is horrible and the bus drivers are rude and most of the time uneducated, there is no need to be insulting. I do not appreciate your comment about them being erased and being sent back to where they came from. Talk about being racist and discriminating, huh?

I am respectfully asking you to take those words back. And no, I won't stoop myself that low and call you names. I don't waste my time.

# Simon Turner says :
30 June, 2009 [ 23:00 ]

Drivers on Strike in Santa Cruz, California
http://www.apta.com/passenger_transport/thisweek/051010_6.cfm

California's shop workers and transport staff walk out
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/oct/15/usa.duncancampbell

Trucker Strike Florida
http://highboldtage.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/trucker-strike-impact-florida-video/

2005 New York City transit strike

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_New_York_City_transit_strike

The New York transit strike: A new stage in the class struggle

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/dec2005/tran-d21.shtml

Strike halts New York transport

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4544650.stm

NEWS ABOUT: transit strike

http://www.newser.com/tag/15126/1/transit-strike.html

Chicago: CTA plans shut down strike on 01/20/08
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=141409

# Charlie Rogers says :
30 June, 2009 [ 23:04 ]

NYC tops rude drivers list

NEW YORK (AP) — Take a back seat Miami, New York City has taken the title as the U.S. city with the worst road rage.

A survey released Tuesday shows the Big Apple was tops among 25 metropolitan areas when it came to surly drivers.

Miami had led the list since 2006. New York was third last year.

The 4th annual survey was conducted by AutoVantage -- a Connecticut-based automobile membership club offering travel services and roadside assistance.

The survey defined road rage as drivers who lose their tempers and those who like to cut into lanes, tailgate, speed and honk.

More than 2,500 people were interviewed.

The survey found Portland, Ore., the most courteous city, followed by Cleveland and Baltimore. Dallas/Fort Worth and Detroit followed New York as cities with the worst road rage.
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=app&sParam=30983875.story

Tailgating, giving the finger, outright violence--Americans grow more likely to take out their frustrations on other drivers.
Some of the incidents are so ludicrous you can't help but laugh--albeit nervously. There was the case in Salt Lake City, where 75-year-old J. C. King--peeved that 41-year-old Larry Remm Jr. honked at him for blocking traffic--followed Remm when he pulled off the road, hurled his prescription bottle at him, and then, in a display of geriatric resolve, smashed Remm's knees with his '92 Mercury. In tony Potomac, Md., Robin Ficker--an attorney and ex-state legislator--knocked the glasses off a pregnant woman after she had the temerity to ask him why he bumped her Jeep with his.

Other incidents lack even the element of macabre humor. Last year, on Virginia's George Washington Parkway, a dispute over a lane change was settled with a high-speed duel that ended when both drivers lost control and crossed the center line, killing two innocent motorists.

Anyone who spent the Memorial Day weekend on the road probably won't be too surprised to learn the results of a major study to be released this week by the American Automobile Association: The rate of "aggressive driving" incidents--defined as events in which an angry or impatient driver tries to kill or injure another driver after a traffic dispute--has risen by 51 percent since 1990. In those cases studied, 37 percent of offenders used firearms against other drivers, an additional 28 percent used other weapons, and 35 percent used their cars.

Fear of (and participation in) aggressive driving has grown so much that in a poll last year residents of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia listed it as a bigger concern than drunk driving. The Maryland highway department is running a campaign called "The End of the Road for Aggressive Drivers," which, among other things, flashes anti-road-rage messages on electronic billboards on the interstates. Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have initiated special highway patrols targeting aggressive drivers. A small but busy community of therapists and scholars has arisen to study the phenomenon and counsel drivers on how to cope. And several members of Congress are now trying to figure out ways to legislate away road rage.

Lest one get unduly alarmed, it helps to put the AAA study's numbers in context: Approximately 250,000 people have been killed in traffic since 1990. While the U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that two thirds of fatalities are at least partially caused by aggressive driving, the AAA study found only 218 that could be directly attributable to enraged drivers. Of the more than 20 million motorists injured, the survey identified 12,610 injuries attributable to aggressive driving. While the study is the first American attempt to quantify aggressive driving, it is not rigorously scientific. The authors drew on reports from 30 newspapers--supplemented by insurance claims and police reports from 16 cities--involving 10,037 occurrences. Moreover, the overall trendlines for car accidents have continued downward for several decades, thanks in part to increases in the drinking age and improvements in car technology like high-mounted brake lights.

But researchers believe there is a growing trend of simple aggressive behavior--road rage--in which a driver reacts angrily to other drivers. Cutting them off, tailgating, giving the finger, waving a fist--experts believe these forms of nonviolent fury are increasing. "Aggressive driving is now the most common way of driving," says Sandra Ball-Rokeach, who codirects the Media and Injury Prevention Program at the University of Southern California. "It's not just a few crazies--it's a subculture of driving."

In focus groups set up by her organization, two thirds of drivers said they reacted to frustrating situations aggressively. Almost half admitted to deliberately braking suddenly, pulling close to the other car, or taking some other potentially dangerous step. Another third said they retaliated with a hostile gesture. Drivers show great creativity in devising hostile responses. Doug Erber of Los Angeles keeps his windshield-wiper-fluid tank full. If someone tailgates, he turns on the wipers, sending fluid over his roof onto the car behind him. "It works better than hitting the brakes," he says, "and you can act totally innocent."

Mad Max. While the AAA authors note there is a profile of the lethally inclined aggressive driver--"relatively young, poorly educated males who have criminal records, histories of violence, and drug or alcohol problems"--road-rage scholars (and regular drivers) believe other groups are equally represented in the less violent forms of aggressive driving. To some, it's tempting to look at this as a psychologically mysterious Jekyll-and-Hyde phenomenon; for others, it's simply attributable to "jerk drivers." In reality, there's a confluence of emotional and demographic factors that changes the average citizen from mere motorist to Mad Max.

First, it isn't just your imagination that traffic is getting worse. Since 1987, the number of miles of roads has increased just 1 percent while the miles driven have shot up by 35 percent. According to a recent Federal Highway Administration study of 50 metropolitan areas, almost 70 percent of urban freeways today--as opposed to 55 percent in 1983--are clogged during rush hour. The study notes that congestion is likely to spread to currently unspoiled locations. Forty percent of the currently gridlock-free Milwaukee County highway system, for example, is predicted to be jammed up more than five hours a day by the year 2000. A study by the Texas Transportation Institute last year found that commuters in one third of the largest cities spent well over 40 hours a year in traffic jams.

Part of the problem is that jobs have shifted from cities to suburbs. Communities designed as residential suburbs with narrow roads have grown into "edge cities," with bustling commercial traffic. Suburb-to-suburb commutes now account for 44 percent of all metropolitan traffic versus 20 percent for suburb-to-downtown travel. Demographer and Edge City author Joel Garreau says workers breaking for lunch are essentially causing a third rush hour. He notes that in Tysons Corner, Va., it takes an average of four traffic signal cycles to get through a typical intersection at lunchtime. And because most mass transit systems are of a spoke-and-hub design, centering on cities and branching out to suburbs, they're not really useful in getting from point A to point B in an edge city or from one edge city to another. Not surprisingly, fewer people are relying on mass transit and more on cars. In 1969, 82.7 percent drove to work; in 1990, 91.4 percent did. Despite the fact that the Washington, D.C., area has an exemplary commuter subway system, it accounts for only 2 percent of all trips made.

Demographic changes have helped put more drivers on the road. Until the 1970s, the percentage of women driving was relatively low, and many families had only one car. But women entered the work force and bought cars, something developers and highway planners hadn't foreseen. From 1969 to 1990 the number of women licensed to drive increased 84 percent. Between 1970 and 1987, the number of cars on the road more than doubled. In the past decade, the number of cars grew faster (17 percent) than the number of people (10 percent). Even carpooling is down despite HOV lanes and other preferential devices. The cumulative effect, says University of Hawaii traffic psychology professor Leon James, is a sort of sensory overload. "There are simply more cars--and more behaviors--to deal with," says James.

As if the United States couldn't produce enough home-grown lousy drivers, it seems to be importing them as well. Experts believe that many immigrants come from countries that have bad roads and aggressive styles. It's not just drivers from Third World countries, though. British drivers are considered among the safest in Europe, yet recent surveys show that nearly 90 percent of British motorists have experienced threats or abuse from other drivers. Of Brits who drive for a living, about 21 percent report having been run off the road. In Australia, one study estimates that about half of all traffic accidents there may be due to road rage. "There are different cultures of driving all over the world--quite clearly, if we mix new cultures in the melting pot, what we get is a culture clash on the roadway," says John Palmer, a professor in the Health Education and Safety Department at Minnesota's St. Cloud State University.

The peak moment for aggressive driving comes not during impenetrable gridlock but just before, when traffic density is high but cars are still moving briskly. That's when cutting someone off or forcing someone out of a lane can make the difference (or so it seems) between being on time and being late, according to Palmer.

Unfortunately, roads are getting more congested just as Americans feel even more pressed for time. "People get on a time line for their car trips," says Palmer. "When they perceive that someone is impeding their progress or invading their agenda, they respond with what they consider to be 'instructive' behavior, which might be as simple as flashing their lights to something more combative."

Suburban assault vehicles. This, uh, "instruction" has become more common, Palmer and others speculate, in part because of modern automotive design. With hyperadjustable seats, soundproof interiors, CD players, and cellular phones, cars are virtually comfortable enough to live in. Students of traffic can't help but wonder if the popularity of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles has contributed to the problem. Sales have approximately doubled since 1990. These big metal shells loom over everything else, fueling feelings of power and drawing out a driver's more primal instincts. "A lot of the anecdotal evidence about aggressive driving incidents tends to involve people driving sport utility vehicles," says Julie Rochman of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "When people get these larger, heavier vehicles, they feel more invulnerable." While Chrysler spokesman Chris Preuss discounts the notion of suburban assault vehicles being behind the aggressive-driving phenomenon, he does say women feel more secure in the jumbo-size vehicles.

In much of life, people feel they don't have full control of their destiny. But a car--unlike, say, a career or a spouse--responds reliably to one's wish. In automobiles, we have an increased (but false) sense of invincibility. Other drivers become dehumanized, mere appendages to a competing machine. "You have the illusion you're alone and master, dislocated from other drivers," says Hawaii's James.

Los Angeles psychologist Arnold Nerenberg describes how one of his recent patients got into an angry road confrontation with another motorist. "They pulled off the road and started running toward each other to fight, but then they recognized each other as neighbors," he says. "When it's just somebody else in a car, it's more two-dimensional; the other person's identity boils down to, 'You're someone who did something bad to me.' "

How can aggressive driving be minimized? Some believe that better driver's education might help. Driver's ed was a high school staple by the 1950s, thanks to federal highway dollars given to states. But a 1978 government study in De Kalb County, Ga., found no reduction in crashes or traffic violations by students who took a driver's ed course compared with those who didn't. Rather than use these results to design better driver's ed programs, the feds essentially gave up on them and diverted money to seat belt and anti-drunk-driving programs. Today, only 40 percent of new drivers complete a formal training course, which may be one reason 20 percent to 35 percent of applicants fail their initial driving test.

The inner driver. But governments are looking anew at the value of driver's education. In April, Michigan passed sweeping rules that grant levels of privilege depending on one's age and driving record. States with similar systems, like California, Maryland, and Oregon, have seen teen accident rates drop.

Those who lose their licenses often have to return to traffic school. But some states have generous standards for these schools. To wit: California's theme schools. There, errant drivers can attend the "Humor's My Name, Traffic's My Game," school, in which a mock jury led by a stand-up comic decides who the worst drivers are; the "Traffic School for Chocoholics," which plies errant drivers with chocolate and ice cream; and the gay and lesbian "Pink Triangle Traffic School."

But the real key to reducing road rage probably lies deep within each of us. Professor James of the University of Hawaii suggests that instead of emphasizing defensive driving--which implies that the other driver is the enemy--we should focus on "supportive driving" or "driving with the aloha spirit." Of course that's hard to do if a) someone has just cut you off at 60 mph or b) you live in Los Angeles instead of Hawaii. Nerenberg, the Los Angeles psychologist, has published an 18-page booklet called "Overcoming Road Rage: The 10-Step Compassion Program." He recommends examining what sets off road rage and to "visualize overcoming it." Other tips: Imagine you might be seeing that person at a party soon. And remember that other drivers "are people with feelings. Let us not humiliate them with our aggression." In the chapter titled, "Peace," he suggests, "Take a deep breath and just let it go." And if that doesn't work, the windshield-wiper trick is pretty clever.

With Anna Mulrine, Mary Lord, Brendan I. Koerner, Barbra Murray, and Steven D. Kaye

http://www.drivers.com/article/169/

# Nora says :
1 July, 2009 [ 01:22 ]

Actually... Peru has the best drivers in the world!!!  In spite of their intrepid ,careless and dangerous way of driving they can do it daily and don't crush. I have seen them park in spaces where only a bike could fit  and experienced the feeling of almost touching the next car if you put your finger out of the window or driving on a side walk.That experience you don't have in places like the US where everyone abides by the rules but is a place where road rage is highest. 
By the way the strike is just a reminder that people are fed-up with the bureaucracy of the gov. and public transit needs a reform or a better leader. Someone needs to make a documentary about Lima's traffic with a bit of humor and music ( the sound of the different horns will be unique) they may get a better respond from the gov. , eliminate  injuries and make their point.

# Rene says :
1 July, 2009 [ 03:33 ]

Nora, I guess you've never been to Paris... I bet they are even better in the things you mention.

Regarding the documentaries, there are lots of funny videos about combis etc on youtube already...

# Mr Magoo says :
1 July, 2009 [ 06:58 ]

All over Earth there are trafic rules, all for one simple reason.  To not kill or injure Other Humans.  The base of all trafic rules is that Humans using the roads respect the life of other humans, drive like gentelmen with respect for human life. 
Some cultures are brought up with the idea to protect and respect human life, others are not.

# Waldo says :
1 July, 2009 [ 09:21 ]

The strikers are cowards.  They hire thugs to do their "enforcement" which means attacking those drivers that were not in favor of the strike and wanted to work (and needed to feed their families).  They are cowards for doing this only one day.  If they had any balls, they would call for an indefinite strike.  Then let's see how much support they would have from the "pueblo".  Inside of a week, the poor people (who are the only ones materially affected by this strike) would rise up and beat the tar out of these mafia thugs.  I, personally would love to see it.  It would once and for all break the back of the phoney transportation union -- which is nothing more than a mafia.

# David N says :
1 July, 2009 [ 15:19 ]

Nope I won't apologize and as for whoever is posting those long articles do you really think anyone actually reads them?

As for Nora...you're delusional.  Peru is the only place in the world I have actually witnessed someone being hit and killed by a vehicle -- TWICE.  Every morning Lima TV covers combis crashing into one another, taxis killing someone, buses rolling into ravines or having head on collisions and exploding.  The Panamericana Sur is a free-for-all in the summer, with speeding drivers flipping over their vehicles, and every day ther are fatalities.  

These roads down here are some of the most dangerous in the world.

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