As a twelfth victim of the horrendous accident involving a loaded freight truck and a passenger bus in Quita Sueño, Haina was discovered in the debris, a local newspaper notes that there have been over two dozen traffic “incidents” over the past five days in the Greater Santo Domingo area alone.
It is well-known that the Dominican Republic ranks first in highway fatalities in the world, with 65 deaths per 100,000 population.
Technicians specializing in highway safety readily admit that 90% of all accidents are attributed to human error. In large part this can be seen as a result of Dominican prosperity that results in so many persons acquiring a motor vehicle with little or no training or knowledge of what is involved in its use.
The common use of alcoholic beverages while driving a vehicle is obviously another major cause, as well as speeding.
Experts point out that the new traffic law (Law 63-17), which replaced Law 241, does not call for any driver education in terms of knowing the law and having a given number of hours learning how to drive under supervision.
Currently, people can take a written exam, and, if they pass, within 15 days they can take a practical test, not on the open roads, but on a simulator. In theory, this means a person can get into a car, and start driving without ever having been in a real vehicle previously.
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Listin Diario
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Diario Libre
4 December 2023