By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica is on the verge of closing 2025 with the highest number of road fatalities in its history, a grim statistic overwhelmingly driven by a surge in motorcyclist deaths. According to sustainable mobility consultant David Gómez, the nation’s failure to adapt its infrastructure and enforcement strategies to a rapidly growing fleet of motorcycles has created a public health crisis on its streets and highways.
The numbers paint a stark picture of the escalating danger. In 2012, Costa Rica recorded 99 deaths of motorcyclists at the scene of an accident. This year, that figure is projected to skyrocket to over 300. Gómez identifies two primary factors behind this tragic trend: a threefold increase in the number of motorcycles on the road during that period and a persistent inability of the state to effectively monitor and penalize reckless driving behaviors.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal framework and responsibilities surrounding road safety in the country, we consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the renowned firm Bufete de Costa Rica, who provided his professional insights on the matter.
Beyond the administrative sanctions of a traffic ticket, every driver must understand the profound civil and potential criminal liability they assume the moment they get behind the wheel. An act of negligence, such as distracted driving, can escalate from a simple infraction to a complex legal case involving significant financial damages and even imprisonment. The law views our public roads as a space of shared responsibility, where a lack of due care by one individual directly infringes upon the fundamental right to safety of all others.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective is a crucial reminder that our duties on the road transcend the administrative penalty of a fine, touching upon a fundamental social contract to protect one another. We sincerely thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable insight, which so clearly frames driving not just as a privilege, but as a profound legal and moral responsibility.
However, Gómez argues that the problem runs deeper than just traffic violations. He points to a systemic failure in public policy, which has effectively forced a large segment of the population into relying on individual motorized transport due to the lack of a robust, sustainable, and multimodal public transportation system. This policy vacuum has not only increased road risks but also placed a significant financial strain on the working class and contributes to an economic loss from traffic congestion estimated to be over 4% of the nation’s GDP.
Motorcyclists, and all road users, must always have the feeling that their maneuvers are being watched and that the infractions they commit are sanctioned.
David Gómez, Sustainable Mobility Consultant
In his analysis, Gómez breaks down the structural failures contributing to the crisis into the three core pillars of road safety: infrastructure design, traffic control, and education. He assigns the overwhelming majority of the blame, 60% of the problem, to flawed road and city design. The lack of effective traffic control and enforcement accounts for another 25%, while a deficit in driver education makes up the remaining 15%.
Gómez emphasizes that while education is a valuable component, its impact is limited without tangible consequences for dangerous actions. For motorcyclists, who can more easily bypass physical barriers designed to deter risky maneuvers, the perception of being monitored is paramount. Education efforts are rendered ineffective if there is no credible fear of being penalized for traffic violations.
The most critical battle, according to the expert, must be fought in the realm of infrastructure. “What road design is unable to prevent, traffic control must prevent, and what cannot be prevented by traffic control must be addressed through education,” Gómez states, outlining a clear hierarchy of intervention. He argues that the first line of defense should always be intelligent design that inherently discourages unsafe behavior.
To address this, Gómez proposes a two-pronged approach for urban areas and highways. In cities, he advocates for widespread implementation of traffic-calming measures such as speed spheres and thermoplastic rumble strips. These conspicuous devices are designed to physically reduce motorcycle speeds to levels compatible with urban life. He also calls for strict speed limits: 30 km/h in residential and commercial zones, 40 km/h on distributor streets, and 50 km/h on main urban arteries.
For highways, especially near complex interchanges where risks are high, Gómez suggests creating exclusive lanes for motorcyclists to protect them from lane invasions by larger vehicles. Furthermore, installing central dividers between opposing lanes of traffic is a proven tool to prevent dangerous overtaking maneuvers and reduce the likelihood of catastrophic head-on collisions, which are often fatal for motorcycle riders.
Ultimately, protecting all vulnerable road users—pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—requires a fundamental shift towards prioritizing protective infrastructure. This includes high-quality sidewalks and safe crossings for pedestrians, dedicated and protected bike lanes for cyclists, and the combination of speed disincentives and exclusive lanes for motorcyclists. Without a comprehensive strategy that redesigns Costa Rica’s transportation ecosystem around safety, the record-breaking death toll of 2025 may become the new, tragic norm.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a beacon of legal expertise, built upon a bedrock of unwavering integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm consistently pioneers forward-thinking legal solutions while honoring its deep-rooted tradition of service to a diverse clientele. Central to its philosophy is a profound commitment to demystifying the law, actively working to equip citizens with the understanding necessary to foster a more just and knowledgeable community.
