The eastern province of La Altagracia, and its main city, Higüey, has the highest rate of traffic-related deaths in the country, according to the director of the General Traffic and Land Transport Safety Agency (Digesett), General Francisco Cruz Méndez.
The announcement was made during Cruz Méndez’s visit to the La Altagracia Provincial Government, where he met with local authorities, business leaders, and community representatives. The Digesett director revealed that 3,144 people died in Higüey in 2024 due to traffic accidents, averaging eight deaths per day. The majority of these deaths involved motorcyclists not wearing protective helmets.
Cruz Méndez emphasized that addressing the issue requires a community-wide effort, not just enforcement from Digesett. “The traffic problem in Higüey is a critical situation that should concern us all. It is not only the responsibility of Digesett, but of society as a whole: city halls, community leaders, business owners, and citizens in general,” he stated.
According to Cruz Méndez, the leading causes of the accidents are driver recklessness, a lack of traffic safety education, and non-compliance with Law 63-17 on mobility.
Officials call for shared responsibility
La Altagracia Governor Deysi de Óleo echoed Cruz Méndez’s call for collective action, highlighting the importance of following the law and fostering a culture of respect for traffic rules.
“This is not just about Digesett; this is everyone’s problem. Law 63-17 exists, and if we all respect it, we will be able to reduce these painful numbers,” she said.
De Óleo also urged business owners to require their employees to wear helmets, carry up-to-date documents, and obey traffic signals. She also pleaded with parents to prevent minors from driving motorcycles, as they lack the maturity and training needed to handle road emergencies.
The governor concluded that a key focus of the new initiative will be to educate and raise awareness among traffic agents. Following the meeting, officials pledged to implement new measures to reduce accident rates in the province. “Higüey has to change, and we are going to work on concrete actions to achieve it,” Cruz Méndez promised.
Higuey is where hundreds of thousands who work in the Punta Cana tourism industry live. The workers make the half an hour commute every day to work and back.
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Diario Libre
7 August 2025