Guanajuato mayor blasts motorcyclists who don't wear helmets

The mayor of Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas , Guanajuato, Fidel Armando Ruiz Ramírez , publicly expressed his annoyance 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 message, the mayor indicated that he is seriously considering ceasing to intervene in accident cases if drivers do not abide by the law: "I am already seriously thinking about letting them break their mother if they want to wear a helmet 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 , particularly fines for not wearing safety helmets.

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 noted 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.

Over the past week, local authorities, in conjunction with the Traffic Police , began enforcement operations that included issuing fines and removing vehicles from those who failed to comply with the rules. Among the most common sanctions was failure to wear a helmet , which sparked anger and protests from some motorcyclists.

In one incident, a citizen was fined after physically assaulting a traffic officer who demanded he comply with the law. Authorities also seized between 10 and 15 motorcycles during the operations, which led to insults and verbal abuse toward the officers, whom some called "fucking hungry people" and "fucking traffic cops."

The response from certain sectors of the population led Fidel Ruiz to publicly express his frustration. According to the council member, citizens have a double standard : 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 may suspend operations . He also warned that if a motorcyclist is involved in an accident without taking the required safety precautions, neither the municipal government nor the funeral home he owns will provide support.

The case has sparked a debate about drivers' responsibility to comply with road safety regulations. Experts point out 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 it is an imposition remain significant barriers.

Ruiz insisted that his administration seeks to protect lives and improve mobility , not generate confrontation. However, he reiterated that road safety depends as much on the authorities as on the cooperation of citizens .

The statements by the mayor of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Juventino Rosas, reflect the tension between enforcing the law and confronting 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 depends not only on sanctions but also on public awareness .