The Ministry of Public Works reported that road patrols assisted slightly over 5,000 persons over the Constitution Day long weekend from Friday, 3 November through Monday, 6 November 2017. The Ministry said that 44% of vehicles that were assisted were for mechanical problems, 32% for tire blowouts, and others for various situations that required towing. There were five fatalities on the highways, with four of them being motorcyclists.
This number is in contrast to the usual figures of long weekends that generally reach double digits. According to General Estanislao Gonell Regalado, the commanding officer of the Military and Police Commission (Comipol), preventive measures contributed to the reduction of accidents.
According to the general, working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (AMET) they were able to slow down drivers and keep the highways uncongested. Douglas Borrell, who heads highway maintenance at the Ministry, said that his people continued working throughout the weekend to clear refuse and obstructions from the roadways. His crews worked on straightening out the Jersey road barriers, cleaning their reflective signage and removing improvised garbage dumps.
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El Nacional
8 November 2017
