- Thread starter Jan
- Start date
Another Dominican Story
Yes, we can all laugh about the lack of driving laws and rules in DR. But let's remember that many people die on the roads. I know of a family traveling together - two cars - back from a resort. One of the cars was driven by a Dominican - so you know how that was. The family were hosting the womans brother and family. Well, the car with the Dominican dad driving crashed and two were killed and two injured. By the time the second family car caught up to the crash the people (dead bodies and all) had been taken from the crashed vehicle, stripped of all possessions and loaded in the back of a pick-up truck. Such barbarism is unheard of. The widow would have liked to have had her husbands wedding band. How sad, pathetic and disgusting.
Once I protested as my friend (who cannot read) pulled onto a one-way street. I said, "Don't you see that arrow pointing down the middle of the road? That means one one and not the way we are going." He said, "No, it doesn't mean that. I always go this way".
Great Post!!! Yes, the driving is one to remember, and let's say that I have also attempted it, but only during the night time! Scary, especially when half of the cars and motores, have no lights on and with all the pot holes and rocks!!!
Driving a motor is another story! That is crazy and no rules apply there! I remember my past trip, learning for my first time, and my friend told me to drive on the other side of the road because it was less bumpy and I said, but what about on-coming traffic? He said, that's okay, they'll go around you! hee, hee.... scary!
But on the most part, Dominicans amaze me with their driving skills and their caution for the most part. As Nancy said though, we can't forget the deaths. Driving to Juan Dolio, there is a spot on the highway, that the locals call the corner of death. There is at least one death a day at that corner and I saw plenty to believe it! The government should have built an overpass on the new highway and of course they didn't.
Also, I saw lots of racing events between motors and even scooters. They raced down a normal highway, not blocked off from the rest of the traffic, passing buses at 140, pulling stunts, and driving while lying on their stomach with their feet in the air! The police, what were they doing? Well, cheering them on of course!!
Driving a motor is another story! That is crazy and no rules apply there! I remember my past trip, learning for my first time, and my friend told me to drive on the other side of the road because it was less bumpy and I said, but what about on-coming traffic? He said, that's okay, they'll go around you! hee, hee.... scary!
But on the most part, Dominicans amaze me with their driving skills and their caution for the most part. As Nancy said though, we can't forget the deaths. Driving to Juan Dolio, there is a spot on the highway, that the locals call the corner of death. There is at least one death a day at that corner and I saw plenty to believe it! The government should have built an overpass on the new highway and of course they didn't.
Also, I saw lots of racing events between motors and even scooters. They raced down a normal highway, not blocked off from the rest of the traffic, passing buses at 140, pulling stunts, and driving while lying on their stomach with their feet in the air! The police, what were they doing? Well, cheering them on of course!!
What your friend said:
"E'te 'e el pa? de la(s) maravilla(s)!"" Was what he said-the "s" aspirated, not actually pronounced...
Absolutely!
There was a famous accidente here a few years ago where the overturned car, dripping gasoline, had pretty much trapped the driver, a wealthy man.
Locals came, not to turn the car back up and free the poor guy, but to strip him of all his gold ornaments! He got pi$$ed off and pulled his gun, shooting two of the vultures but setting fire to the care and killing himself!. Dominican History 101...
This has happened many times...in one fashion or another.
HB, a saddened commentary
"E'te 'e el pa? de la(s) maravilla(s)!"" Was what he said-the "s" aspirated, not actually pronounced...
Absolutely!
There was a famous accidente here a few years ago where the overturned car, dripping gasoline, had pretty much trapped the driver, a wealthy man.
Locals came, not to turn the car back up and free the poor guy, but to strip him of all his gold ornaments! He got pi$$ed off and pulled his gun, shooting two of the vultures but setting fire to the care and killing himself!. Dominican History 101...
This has happened many times...in one fashion or another.
HB, a saddened commentary
Los Conucos/ Juan Dolio intersection is a nightmare!!
And also visible from my condo window. How many deaths have occurred there???? I've lost count......
Having Mama Teresa's on the opposite side of the highway also adds to the death toll. Not only is anyone in a car or on a motorcysle at risk but many tourists crossing from the house of ill repute-four sheets to the wind (drunk) who now must cross not just two but four lanes of traffic to reach the hotel/resorts on the beach side increase the death toll exponentially!
I cringe everytime I hear squealing tires because it usually means another fatality! And yes the injured are pulled from thier vehicle or picked up off the road, thrown into a truck or taxi and sped to the hospital in San Pedro. Seldom are they taken to a local clinic (there are several good ones nearby) and no doubt any valuables are gone by the time they reach San Pedro!
And also visible from my condo window. How many deaths have occurred there???? I've lost count......
Having Mama Teresa's on the opposite side of the highway also adds to the death toll. Not only is anyone in a car or on a motorcysle at risk but many tourists crossing from the house of ill repute-four sheets to the wind (drunk) who now must cross not just two but four lanes of traffic to reach the hotel/resorts on the beach side increase the death toll exponentially!
I cringe everytime I hear squealing tires because it usually means another fatality! And yes the injured are pulled from thier vehicle or picked up off the road, thrown into a truck or taxi and sped to the hospital in San Pedro. Seldom are they taken to a local clinic (there are several good ones nearby) and no doubt any valuables are gone by the time they reach San Pedro!
If one was driving eastward from Boca Chica, perhaps to La Romana is there any way to avoid this dangerous portion of
highway near or in Juan Dolio?
Moca
highway near or in Juan Dolio?
Moca
Yes......
That's to work started by the Fernando gov't and FINALLY completed by the present one.......there is a main highway that bypasses Guayacanes, Juan Dolio stretch and goes straight to San Pedro (actually to the La Romana side of SP).
The highway that passes through the smaller communities is now a secondary highway (kinda like the collector lanes at home versus the expressway.) Hopefully things will get better at the intersection in Juan Dolio now that the highways are finally complete and turn lanes are in place (IF drivers follow the rules?!!)
The junction is on the main highway just at the outskirts of Boca Chica.
That's to work started by the Fernando gov't and FINALLY completed by the present one.......there is a main highway that bypasses Guayacanes, Juan Dolio stretch and goes straight to San Pedro (actually to the La Romana side of SP).
The highway that passes through the smaller communities is now a secondary highway (kinda like the collector lanes at home versus the expressway.) Hopefully things will get better at the intersection in Juan Dolio now that the highways are finally complete and turn lanes are in place (IF drivers follow the rules?!!)
The junction is on the main highway just at the outskirts of Boca Chica.