
The National Institute of Transit and Ground Transport (Intrant) has unveiled a new public awareness campaign: “Sé Consciente RD,” (Become Aware DR), aimed at significantly reducing the alarming rate of traffic accidents in the country. The initiative was launched on 28 January 2025 amidst the staggering statistic of 3,114 fatalities in 2024, with a disproportionate impact on young people aged 15 to 29.
Intrant director Milton Morrison announced a series of measures to address the crisis, including an immediate ban on heavy trucks from traversing the Malecón de Santo Domingo. “We will prohibit all heavy vehicles from using the Malecón. You will see in the coming days that we will ban 18-wheelers and vehicles with more than four axles,” Morrison stated.
Traffic on the Malecon has been banned for years. What has been missing is the implementation of the regulations.
Additionally, the agency announced it is developing a standardized helmet for motorcyclists. Andiel Galván, Intrant’s director of road safety, explained during the presentation that the initiative is still in the drafting stage. “We are working on a draft and will form a working group with experts to guide us. Ultimately, the Dominican Institute for Standardization (Indocal) will certify the quality of the product,” Galván said.
The Intrant is also set to modernize the traffic fines system, making the process fully digital and reforming Intrant Law 63-17 to prevent fines from expiring. “Those notebooks where fines were written down will disappear. Digesett officers will have devices to issue fines and provide receipts immediately,” Morrison explained when going public with the campaign.
Moreover, the agency plans to establish a nationwide road patrol network, focusing on high-risk areas. According to Intrant data, roads accounted for the highest percentage of accidents last year, followed by streets, avenues, highways, and expressways.
To enhance driver education, the Intrant will relaunch the Road Safety School (Enevial) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the National Institute of Technical Professional Training.
The campaign launch was attended by General Francisco Ozoria de la Cruz, head of the General Traffic Safety and GroundTransport Agency (Digesett), and Dio Astacio, mayor of Santo Domingo Este.
Milton Morrison is the same person who recently recommended that people avoid peak hours and use GPS systems to deal with traffic jams, especially those in the capital city. For years now, traffic laws have been ignored, including signs that clearly state no parking, motorcyclists regularly breaking traffic laws, and trucks driving on the Malecon with law enforcement agents looking the other way.
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Listin Diario
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El Dia
29 January 2025