Everyone seems to have a car in the DR

[Dolores]

The Dominican government through its commercial bank (Banco de Reservas) for decades has facilitated low cost borrowing for new cars in the Dominican Republic. The results are showing. Diario Libre reports that the DR now ranks third in Latin America for vehicles per capital.

With a population of over 11 million, the country now boasts 6,081,697 registered vehicles as of September 2023, a nearly 25% increase over the last four years.

This surge in vehicle ownership, outpacing population growth, has led to noticeable traffic congestion in major cities and strained the nation’s otherwise impressive road infrastructure. The Dominican Republic now has 507.8 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants, trailing only Argentina (590) and Brazil (521). This stands in contrast to the regional average of 200 vehicles per 1,000 people as reported by the United Nations’ Economic...

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[windeguy]

vehicles per capital

Quite the freuedian slip regarding Santo Trafficjam.

 

[chico bill]

How many are unregistered? How many are road worthy?
I see way too many vehicles with parts falling off or missing and you know they don't get maintenance or carry insurance.

 

[Father Guido]

if cars were taken away from people who don't know how to drive the ownership rate of 507.8 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants would drop to about 50 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants

 

[j_d66]

Over 60% of that total are motorcycles

 

[Peterj]

if cars were taken away from people who don't know how to drive the ownership rate of 507.8 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants would drop to about 50 vehicles per 1000 inhabitants

That many.....you have a very optimistic attitude!

 

[drstock]

it's a pity they aren't improving the roads to keep up with demand - on the North Coast, for example.

 

[CristoRey]

Congratulations Stupid!

 

[Liberator]

If you have the possibility/freedom to plan around rush hours (not always easy in SDQ and strongly dependent on where you need to be in the city) it is doable.
In some cases an Uber offers a solution, then you are stuck, but you do not have to drive yourself. And fuel-saving too