Alejandro Williams, an independent road safety consultant, explained that the mandatory insurance in Guatemala is contemplated in article 29 of the Traffic Law and that, for almost three decades, it has not been applied because the authorities had not published a regulation.
He indicated that, according to data from victims associations, in the last 29 years at least two million people suffered injuries in road mishaps without receiving compensation.
“They did not receive anything responsible.
Williams said that, on average, only one in ten people involved in a road accident receives some type of compensation.
Williams emphasized that the approval of the four agreements of the Ministry of the Interior, which establish mandatory insurance, was the result of dialogue tables between civil society, transport associations, road safety experts and government authorities.
César Bol, spokesman for the Guate Organization for Guate and the National Traffic Victims Unit, reported that approximately 500 organizations and transporter guilds nationwide participated in the proposal of the regulations.
“Then he moved to the government and they made technical modifications, but the essence remains the same.
He pointed out that mandatory insurance, which covers damage to third parties, will not affect the economy of Guatemalans.
“The way of not affecting the pocket of the Guatemalan, of the carrier or the victim was sought, but to give him that social character,” he said.
He added that the project began to work in 2019 and that the one approved by former president Alejandro Giammattei affected carriers.
“In the last year we worked on the proposals of all sectors and an agreement was reached. It was 12 months of intense work and we carried out dialogue tables throughout the country,” he said.
Taxi drivers in favor of mandatory insurance
Rolando López, vice president of the Association of Taxi Pilots of Guatemala, said that they were initially against the 17-2020 government agreement, which established the compulsory insurance regulations, but that, after the dialogues and to solve “some inconsistencies”, an agreement was reached so that it does not affect the owners of taxis.
“We are not against insurance.
López commented that they are aware of the number of victims due to traffic accidents and that these should be compensated when they suffer injuries.
He pointed out that the Government should implement a unit to control insurers, avoid excessive charges, review contracts and guarantee compliance with compensation to those affected.
Abner Flores, vice president of the Association of Taxis Owners of Guatemala, indicated that insurers must comply with the established agreements and the Regulations of the Compulsory Insurance.
He added that at least 25 thousand taxi owners and private vehicles working with mobile applications are registered in the association.