from today's DR1 news...
Economists call for reduced consumption
Economists Henri Hebrard and Pavel Isa Contreras are saying that if the President announces reductions in fuel prices in his special address to the nation tomorrow, this should not affect food for the poorest sectors. Hebrard said that he expects a reduction in fuel prices and other measures to protect the people affected by the crisis.
One of the main measures that President Leonel Fernandez is expected to announce tomorrow will involve reducing fuel consumption in the country. The other will address the high prices of foodstuffs. In January fuel consumption increased by 5 million gallons in relation to 2010.
Meanwhile, some raw materials like wheat and edible oils are on a par with 2008 prices, when the world crisis occurred on the international markets, and this is being felt in local markets. The economists told Diario Libre that the reasons for the increase in fuel consumption in the country are the traffic jams and a fleet of obsolete and poorly maintained vehicles. According to figures from the Tax Department (DGII), as of 31 December 2010, the vehicular fleet was 2.7 million units and 130,403 new vehicles were registered last year.
Of the 2.7 million vehicles, most are predominately obsolete. Pre-2006 units compose 93.8% of the total number of automobiles and 84.7% of the SUVs or all-terrain vehicles, which increases fuel consumption. Most of these vehicles are in the National District with 50.4%, Santo Domingo has 11.8% and Santiago 5.9% according to the DGII statistics. The study reveals that the fleet grew by 5% in 2010. Of the total number of vehicles registered, 49.5% are motorcycles and 24.2% are cars.
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Clearly there is no sort of annual inspection required here... I am not sure that just pre 2006 vehicles should be the test for obsolete.. it really depends on how well the car is maintained, no? (I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on the message boards)
What is really horrible,, and gross and disgusting,,, is the many carros publicos that go around the Capital carrying 6 passageners stuffed into a five person car, body by Bondo, doors by duct tape, no handles on the inside, no AC, no lights, bumpers falling off.. REALLY makes the place look like a trash heap. Even some of the Apolo taxis run around with cracked windshields, doors not working etc, etc... Not that all these things affect fuel consumption... but they make the Capital look really bad. Very third world
WHY not some mini van type buses, why not some fixed route buses.. why this crowding? What is the power of FENETRO or whatever the teamsters union is here..
And to just subsidize gas is a terrible idea. Give discounts to food producers to get their produce to market and make it VERY expensive to drive a private car around the Capital.
I can sit down on Independencia at rush hour.. which is an oxymoron since it more like a rush crawl.. and it looks like a new car show. SUCH a huge number of late model SUVs.. all with a single driver in the them.
Economists call for reduced consumption
Economists Henri Hebrard and Pavel Isa Contreras are saying that if the President announces reductions in fuel prices in his special address to the nation tomorrow, this should not affect food for the poorest sectors. Hebrard said that he expects a reduction in fuel prices and other measures to protect the people affected by the crisis.
One of the main measures that President Leonel Fernandez is expected to announce tomorrow will involve reducing fuel consumption in the country. The other will address the high prices of foodstuffs. In January fuel consumption increased by 5 million gallons in relation to 2010.
Meanwhile, some raw materials like wheat and edible oils are on a par with 2008 prices, when the world crisis occurred on the international markets, and this is being felt in local markets. The economists told Diario Libre that the reasons for the increase in fuel consumption in the country are the traffic jams and a fleet of obsolete and poorly maintained vehicles. According to figures from the Tax Department (DGII), as of 31 December 2010, the vehicular fleet was 2.7 million units and 130,403 new vehicles were registered last year.
Of the 2.7 million vehicles, most are predominately obsolete. Pre-2006 units compose 93.8% of the total number of automobiles and 84.7% of the SUVs or all-terrain vehicles, which increases fuel consumption. Most of these vehicles are in the National District with 50.4%, Santo Domingo has 11.8% and Santiago 5.9% according to the DGII statistics. The study reveals that the fleet grew by 5% in 2010. Of the total number of vehicles registered, 49.5% are motorcycles and 24.2% are cars.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearly there is no sort of annual inspection required here... I am not sure that just pre 2006 vehicles should be the test for obsolete.. it really depends on how well the car is maintained, no? (I am not a mechanic, nor do I play one on the message boards)
What is really horrible,, and gross and disgusting,,, is the many carros publicos that go around the Capital carrying 6 passageners stuffed into a five person car, body by Bondo, doors by duct tape, no handles on the inside, no AC, no lights, bumpers falling off.. REALLY makes the place look like a trash heap. Even some of the Apolo taxis run around with cracked windshields, doors not working etc, etc... Not that all these things affect fuel consumption... but they make the Capital look really bad. Very third world
WHY not some mini van type buses, why not some fixed route buses.. why this crowding? What is the power of FENETRO or whatever the teamsters union is here..
And to just subsidize gas is a terrible idea. Give discounts to food producers to get their produce to market and make it VERY expensive to drive a private car around the Capital.
I can sit down on Independencia at rush hour.. which is an oxymoron since it more like a rush crawl.. and it looks like a new car show. SUCH a huge number of late model SUVs.. all with a single driver in the them.