Thiago Gonzaga Foundation
The bill created by the Federal Government proposing changes in the Brazilian Traffic Code places the country against the world tendency.
We are nearing the end of the United Nations’ Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011/2020), and the situation in Brazil is not encouraging. By the numbers we have so far, everything indicates that our country will not meet the goal of 50% reduction in accidents and deaths in traffic.
The project delivered by President Jair Bolsonaro on June 4th, however, goes against the objectives set by the Decade. The Brazilian roads are among the most violent in the world: annually in our country, there are more than 45 thousand people who lose their lives and another 300 thousand wounded, mutilated and many incapacitated by the aftermath of the accidents. And even with these alarming numbers, the proposed changes to the Brazilian Traffic Code are intended to make more flexible the rules that are already in force. The hard-won achievements over the past two decades since the Code was published – which still need to evolve to take our country out of the death ranks – will suffer a setback and further intensify this real war that we witness on Brazilian streets and roads.
Among the changes foreseen in the bill we can find the one that increases from 20 to 40 points the limit for suspension of the driver’s license. From this proposal, the government conveys the society the message of permissiveness regarding the violation of the traffic laws. It should be noted that, according to the Department of Traffic’s data, 90% of drivers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul – the overwhelming majority – do not have points scored in the driver’s license. So what is the need to increase this limit? We can’t benefit the offenders. We must invest in education for a more humane and safe transit, so that drivers are more prudent and respect the laws.
Another measure proposed by the bill is the end of the fine for drivers transporting children in vehicles without the use of child restraint devices – such as baby comfort and child seat. Instead, drivers would only receive a written warning. In force since 2008, the mandatory use of vehicle restraint devices to transport children up to seven and a half years old (Contran Resolution 277) was a great achievement. After all, the use of such equipment reduces the risk of death by up to 71% in case of accidents. In Brazil, road violence is the main cause of external death of children and adolescents up to 14 years of age. Therefore, making inspection and punishment more flexible regarding the lack of child restraint equipment is putting the lives of our children even more at risk.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, responsible for traffic in the federal government, argues that the Brazilian Traffic Code needs updating. With two decades of application, the Code can indeed be updated. But that this update should be in defense of LIFE. Always!
We ask for common sense and reflection on the impact these changes will have on road safety and, above all, on the lives of Brazilians.
We, from the Thiago de Moraes Gonzaga Foundation, defend that no interest can overlap with LIFE and the safety of our population.
Vida Urgente, because Life is everything!
