The Christmas-New Year’s holiday in the Dominican Republic is always a time for exercising extra caution when commuting on the major highways and thoroughfares. The Center for Emergency Operation (COE) prepares for the event by mobilizing tens of thousands of troops, police and highway agents and volunteers. These are supported by hundreds of vehicles, including ambulances, tow trucks, mobile workshops, and aid stations along the most traveled roads.
During the New Year’s wrap-up press conference, Center for Emergency Operations (COE) director, retired general Juan Mendez reported that 7.6 million vehicles were registered using the toll highways, a slight increase over the previous year. Regarding the traffic fatalities, Mendez noted that 18 occurred during the New Year’s celebrations, and overall, a 31% reduction from the 2024-2025 holiday numbers. There were 307 persons injured in these accidents. Mendez reported that most of the accidents occurred near the capital, with 30% of these in Santo Domingo, the National District, San Cristobal and San Pedro de Macoris.
This year, the last report of Operation Conciencia de la Vida (Awareness of Life) lists a total of 29 fatalities, 245 accidents ad 65 minors suffering from alcoholic intoxication. Regarding the minors, 13 were treated during the first phase of the operation in December, and 52 were treated during the second phase covering the New Year’s holiday. The surprising detail in the data was that the youngest was just 3 years old. According to the National Health Service (SNS), all cases of intoxication by minors are reported to the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
El Caribe
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Diario Libre
6 January 2025