A staggering number of motorcycle fatalities are reported in 2024. According to the National Institute of Transit and Land Transport (Intrant), over 3,000 people have lost their lives in traffic accidents this year alone, and a shocking 70% of those victims were riding motorcycles.
Historically, holiday periods such as Easter Week and the end-of-year festivities come with a surge in traffic accidents, with motorcyclists disproportionately affected. This trend has become increasingly alarming in recent years.
Intrant director Milton Morrison has described the situation as an “epidemic,” emphasizing the urgent need for intervention. The data from hospitals like the Juan Bosch Traumatology Hospital in La Vega paints a grim picture. Over the past five years, 80-85% of emergency room patients have been victims of traffic accidents, and more than 70% of those were motorcyclists.
From January to October 2024, the hospital treated 1,710 accident victims, of whom 1,188 were motorcyclists. These numbers are consistent with previous years, highlighting the ongoing crisis.
Dr. Enmanuel Corniel, an emergency physician at the hospital, revealed a disturbing trend: “None of them were wearing helmets.”
Dr. César Roque, director of the Darío Contreras Hospital, added that this pattern has persisted since 1991. He noted that motorcycle accidents consistently top the list of trauma cases at hospitals nationwide.
According to Dr. Roque, the number of accidents surges in the weeks leading up to December, with emergency rooms overwhelmed by patients. “These are young people, between 15 and 30 years old, mostly riding motorcycles,” he explained. “Sundays and Mondays are the busiest days, with emergencies starting from 10 pm and continuing non-stop.”
The doctor highlighted the dangerous behaviors contributing to these accidents, including speeding, driving without a license, and drinking and driving.
The medics say the imprudence of motorcycles leads to the situation that is a major burden on healthcare facilities. They urge stricter enforcement of traffic laws, improved road infrastructure, and public awareness campaigns.
Outside of the capital city, few motorcyclists adhere to the ruling that obliges them to wear helmets. Likewise, the traffic authorities are extremely complacent with motorcyclists who violate traffic laws. Moreso, the courts seem to have been instructed to rule in favor of motorcyclists when these are involved in traffic accidents versus those driving vehicles.
Read more in Spanish:
Diario Libre
4 December 2024