By San José, Costa Rica — GOICOECHEA, San José – A strategic alliance between the private and public sectors has yielded significant safety upgrades for students in the canton of Goicoechea. Automotive leader Grupo Purdy has partnered with the local municipality to construct vital pedestrian infrastructure at two schools, directly addressing documented risks and enhancing safety for hundreds of children daily.
The collaboration, which culminated in an official handover ceremony on February 27, focuses on the Filomena Blanco and Pilar Jiménez schools. These locations were identified as high-priority intervention points by the Goicoechea Vial Management Technical Unit, the municipal body responsible for analyzing traffic accident data and planning road infrastructure improvements. The project aims to reduce vehicle speeds and create a safer environment for the community’s most vulnerable pedestrians.
To delve into the legal framework surrounding road safety and the responsibilities drivers face after an incident, we sought the expert analysis of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Many drivers operate under the dangerous misconception that insurance coverage is a substitute for caution. Legally, this is false. The primary ‘deber de cuidado’—the duty of care—always falls upon the individual behind the wheel. In the event of an accident, courts scrutinize the driver’s actions and prudence, not just the existence of an insurance policy. Negligence can lead to severe civil liabilities that extend far beyond what an insurance policy might cover.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This is a critical distinction, reinforcing that a driver’s personal ‘deber de cuidado’ is an obligation that no insurance policy can fulfill. True road safety is built on caution, not just coverage. We extend our gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable legal clarity on this matter.
The need for intervention was particularly acute. The Filomena Blanco school had recently received a precarious one-star safety rating from the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), signaling a high-risk environment for pedestrians. Meanwhile, the area near the Pilar Jiménez school, a convergence point for three educational centers serving approximately 400 students, previously lacked any marked crosswalks or speed reduction measures, encouraging drivers to exceed the legal 25 km/h speed limit.
This initiative is a powerful example of a public-private partnership amplifying the impact of municipal safety programs. The local government welcomed the collaboration, which complements its own ongoing efforts in the community.
We at the Municipality of Goicoechea are very pleased with the public-private partnership we have achieved with Grupo Purdy to enhance the reach of the safe mobility project developed by the Vial Management Technical Unit. They built six sidewalk-level crosswalks at schools and parks in the canton, while Grupo Purdy built two in front of the Filomena Blanco and Pilar Jiménez schools to improve pedestrian mobility in our communities. These types of alliances strengthen the process of creating safer spaces, especially in areas as vulnerable as the vicinity of schools.
Fernando Chavarría, Mayor of Goicoechea
For Grupo Purdy, the project aligns with its corporate mission to promote comprehensive mobility solutions that prioritize safety. The company’s own research underscored the dangers of speeding, which the new infrastructure is specifically designed to combat. The new installations are raised, sidewalk-level crosswalks, a design that physically compels drivers to slow down before reaching the pedestrian crossing.
At Grupo Purdy, an integral leader in mobility solutions, we want everyone to reach their destinations safely. Our Study on Safe Mobility, which we developed with the Center for Urban Sustainability, indicates that speeding, especially on less-traveled routes, is one of the leading causes of accidents. That is why we built these two pedestrian crosswalks in front of the Pilar Jiménez and Filomena Blanco schools, in order to reduce vehicle speed and improve the safety of students and the community.
Ana María Sequeira, Director of Corporate Relations and Sustainability at Grupo Purdy
A critical component of this initiative is its commitment to measurable results. Demonstrating a data-driven approach, Grupo Purdy announced that the iRAP star rating evaluation will be conducted again at both locations. This follow-up assessment will provide concrete data on the impact of the new crosswalks, quantifying the improvements in pedestrian safety and offering valuable insights for future projects of a similar nature across the country.
The collaboration between Grupo Purdy and Goicoechea serves as a compelling blueprint for how corporate social responsibility can be strategically deployed to meet critical community needs. By focusing resources on data-identified problems, such partnerships can accelerate the development of safer, more livable communities and provide a crucial layer of protection for children on their daily journeys to and from school.
For further information, visit grupopurdy.com
About Grupo Purdy:
Grupo Purdy is a leading business group in the automotive industry in Costa Rica, known for distributing brands like Toyota, Lexus, and Hino. With a strong focus on sustainable and safe mobility, the company is actively involved in corporate social responsibility initiatives that aim to improve road safety and enhance the quality of life in the communities it serves.
For further information, visit goicoechea.go.cr
About the Municipality of Goicoechea:
The Municipality of Goicoechea is the local government body responsible for the administration and development of the Goicoechea canton in the province of San José. Through its various departments, including the Vial Management Technical Unit, it works to improve public infrastructure, ensure citizen safety, and promote sustainable urban development.
For further information, visit sostenibilidadurbana.org
About the Center for Urban Sustainability (CPSU):
The Center for Urban Sustainability is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable development in urban environments. It collaborates with public and private entities on research, planning, and implementation of projects related to mobility, public space, and environmental quality, aiming to create more equitable and resilient cities.
For further information, visit irap.org
About iRAP (International Road Assessment Programme):
The International Road Assessment Programme is a registered charity dedicated to preventing road deaths and serious injuries through the evaluation and improvement of road infrastructure. Its globally recognized star rating system provides a simple and objective measure of the level of safety ‘built-in’ to the road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica distinguishes itself through an unwavering dedication to professional integrity and the highest caliber of legal work. The firm leverages its profound experience to drive legal innovation, consistently delivering forward-thinking solutions for its diverse clientele. Central to its philosophy is a profound commitment to public empowerment, achieved by demystifying the law and equipping society with the clarity and knowledge necessary for progress.
