The mayor of Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas, Guanajuato, Fidel Armando Ruiz Ramírez, publicly expressed his anger at motorcyclists who refuse to wear helmets, despite the fact that it is a basic measure to prevent serious injuries and deaths. In a forceful statement, the mayor stated that he is seriously considering ceasing to intervene in accidents if drivers do not abide by the law: “I am already seriously considering letting them go to hell whether they want to wear helmets or not,” he declared.
The mayor’s stance comes after weeks of tension between municipal authorities and a segment of the population, stemming from the strict enforcement of traffic regulations, especially the penalties for not wearing a safety helmet.
An increase in motorcycles and accidents
In Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas, motorcycle use has increased significantly in recent years, to the point that, according to municipal estimates, there is one motorcycle per family. This growth has been accompanied by an increase in the number of accidents, many of them with serious consequences due to a lack of protective equipment.
The mayor emphasized that motorcycles are currently the preferred vehicle for getting around the region, making it essential to regulate their use and raise awareness about the risks. However, despite the fact that traffic operations were implemented in response to citizen requests, the reaction from several drivers has been negative.
Operations and Citizen Reaction
During the last week, local authorities, in conjunction with the Traffic Police, began supervision operations that included issuing fines and removing motorcycles from those who did not comply with the rules. Among the most common sanctions was not wearing a helmet, which sparked anger and protests from some motorcyclists.
In one incident, a citizen was fined after physically assaulting a traffic officer who asked him to comply with the law. In addition, authorities seized between 10 and 15 motorcycles during the operations, which led to insults and verbal abuse toward the officers, whom some called “fucking hungry” and “fucking traffic cops.”
Mayor’s Frustration
The response from certain sectors of the population led Fidel Ruiz to publicly express his frustration. According to the mayor, there is a double standard among citizens: on the one hand, they demand that the government enforce the rules; On the other, they react with anger and disobedience when sanctions are imposed.
Ruiz stated that he is not willing to expose traffic officers to disrespect or aggression and that if this situation continues, he could suspend the operations. He also warned that if a motorcyclist is involved in an accident without taking the required safety measures, neither the municipal government nor the funeral home he owns will provide support.
Road Safety as a Shared Responsibility
The case has sparked a debate about drivers’ responsibility to comply with road safety regulations. Experts indicate that helmet use reduces the risk of death by more than 40% and the risk of serious injury in motorcycle accidents by up to 70%. However, cultural resistance and the perception that helmets are imposed remain significant barriers.
Ruiz insisted that his administration seeks to protect lives and improve mobility, not generate confrontation. However, I have reiterated that road safety depends as much on the authorities as on the cooperation of the public.
The statements by the mayor of Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas reflect the tension between enforcing the law and addressing social resistance to basic safety measures. As motorcycle accident rates continue to rise, the challenge for authorities will be to balance enforcement and road safety education to ensure that tragedy prevention does not depend solely on sanctions, but on citizen awareness.
Source: msn
