In response to a poll carried out by the Municipality of Santo Domingo, seven of 10 city residents admitted that there is a serious need for more drivers’ ed. in the National District. According to the city government, driving at peak hours is reduced to 3-5kms per hour in many key areas of the city. The Municipality says that one of the issues is that cargo and passenger transport converge at the same time, but there is also a serious lack of courtesy. Eduardo Lantigua said that the problem is that everyone is out for his own interest. “That is the motoconchista, the public bus driver, the pedestrian who crosses anywhere and anytime,” he said.
The poll also revealed that as well as a lack of education among drivers, the city streets are seriously deteriorating. The garbage collection deficiency is raised as a third key problem in Santo Domingo, as is the presence of vendor stands on city streets, noise pollution from colmadones and entertainment centers, obstruction of the sidewalks and slumification of the markets.