transportation

Poorly marked streets blamed for problems

In an unofficial survey, 94 percent of La Prensa readers said Panama City’s roads are poorly marked.

Levi Cruz/LA PRENSA

unmarked: Panama City’s poorly marked streets have caused problems for motorists and pedestrians alike. The government said it is trying to address the issue, but has made little progress so far.1099465

The absence of traffic signs and adequately marked streets has become a real headache for drivers and pedestrians in Panama City.

In a non-scientific poll conducted through the web site of La Prensa, 94 percent of the 1,488 readers who participated felt that the city needs better road signs, while 84 percent said they had been in a mishap because of poorly marked streets and intersections.

Luis Pérez, who drives a truck for a living, said that he ran off the road recently during a heavy rainstorm.

“I was following the line on the edge of the street, but I ended up in the middle of a ditch,” he said. “Until a new line is painted on this road, people are risking their lives every day.”

Carlos Gómez had problems while driving at night toward his home in Juan Díaz on Vía Domingo Díaz in San Miguelito.

“The edges of the street are not painted, and I went off the road,” he said. “I hit a parked car and almost hit some people walking near the street.”

Despite the results of the La Prensa poll, data from the Dirección de Operaciones del Tránsito of the Policía Nacional shows that 8 percent of the country's traffic accidents can be attributed to poor markings or improper signage.

According to police spokesman Eduardo Lim Yueng, the other 92 percent are caused by human error or poorly maintained vehicles.

Many of the users who sent their comments to prensa.com complained because the lines and other markings on the streets are either faded or have never been put in place.

“For the drivers who live here, the road signage does not appear to be entirely wrong. But for tourists and foreigners, it must be terrifying,” one person commented.

Another problem cited by readers was lack of street signs.

“Visitors are not guided by references to buildings or restaurants, they are guided by names and numbers of streets,” a reader said.

On Vía España, pedestrians have a choice of using one of two crossing areas near the El Panama Hotel. Officials with the Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT) moved the original crosswalk to put it in a safer area, but the old one was never covered up.

ATTT officials said they have made an effort to mark streets better. But it only has a staff of 52 people, including 12 in Panama City, who are dedicated to this task.