The number of vehicles in the Dominican Republic has increased nine times more than the population, according to Claudia Franchesca de los Santos, executive director of the National Transportation and Traffic Institute (Intrant). Engineer de los Santos participated in an event on traffic sponsored by the INTEC university in Santo Domingo. She spoke of the challenges the growth in vehicles means for the country.
De los Santos noted that between 2004 and 2018, the total number of vehicles in the nation increased by 149% when the population only increased by 16%. People were encouraged by preferential rates commercial banks made readily available. In the Dominican Republic, it is much easier to get a loan for a luxury vehicle than for productive activities.
De los Santos told the Listin Diario newspaper that notwithstanding, 46% of the vehicles in circulation date before 2000.
She said that there has been a 149% increase in vehicles at a time when the roads are the same in the cities. This has caused major bottle jams, mainly in the National District. The increase in vehicles in circulation has been nine times that of the population. As of 31 December 2018 there are 4,350,884 vehicles in the Dominican Republic. This is 20% more than in 2015.
Moreover, of the 4,365,884 vehicles in circulation as of 31 December 2018, 55% of these are motorcycles, or 2.4 million. Motorcycles are involved in most traffic accidents. 42% of fatalities in traffic accidents are persons ages 15 to 29. In 2017, 2,804 persons died in traffic accidents and 97,821 were injured according to the Permanent Road Safety Observatory (Opsevi).
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Hoy
16 September 2019