The Center for Emergency Operations reported 10 persons dead in violent incidents and over 200 injured over the Christmas holiday. Presidency Minister Gustavo Montalvo said the 911 Emergency System attended to 1,087 emergency cases and 196 road assistance cases on the peak days of 24 and 25 December 2018.
But the focus is on prevention, especially when driving in these days when there is no restriction on alcohol sales.
With more than 1,000 accidents being attended to in just one public hospital in Santo Domingo, the month of December has shown an alarming propensity for the public to disregard highway safety and common sense. The director of the Public Trauma Hospital Dario Contreras is calling for a ban or strict limitations on motorcycles over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Minister of Public Health was one of the first to voice this possible solution to the traffic dangers on the nation’s roads.
Of the 1,190 accident victims treated at the Dario Contreras, 735 were either the driver or a passenger on motorcycles, some 66.7%. Dr. Jose Aponte said that 49% of the yearly expenditures at the hospital involve treating accident victims, the majority of whom need intensive care that costs RD$50,000 a day. Fractures can cost RD$70,000 for three months of rehab work.
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
COE
26 December 2018
