The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported the Dominican Republic is the world leader in traffic fatalities. 64.6 traffic fatalities per 100,000 population, the Dominican Republic passed runner-ups, Zimbabwe (41/100,000), Venezuela (39/100,000), Liberia (38.9), and Eritrea (37.9).
The ranking is attributed to a combination of lack of driver education and laissez-faire of authorities in allowing millions of uneducated motorcyclists to circulate.
Traffic accidents are the greatest killer of men in the Dominican Republic between the ages of 14 and 34, as 87% of all traffic deaths are men. It is also the main cause of maimed people in the country.
In the Dominican Republic, most of these traffic fatalities are motorcycle riders or drivers, and the country’s absolute number for any given year is around 3,000 deaths per year.
This might help explain the government’s firm intent to assure the public that all motorcycle drivers are equipped with helmets and licenses.
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Diario Libre
Listin Diario
18 July 2022