Santo Domingo.- The Land Transport Technical Office (OTTT) said yesterday public vehicles in bad shape and which aren’t in condition to provide good service will be prevented from driving to the interior during the holidays.
The measure, part of the operation "Christmas without Accidents, Guarantee of Lives 2007", aims to lower the number of deaths by traffic accidents.
The campaign started yesterday in the terminals and bus-stops, and to last until Sunday, January 6, includes the inspection of the vehicles previous to heading to the towns.
OTTT director Franklin Beltré Cabral said only those vehicles which are in optimal condition will be allowed to travel on the different highways. "We are committed to looking for measures which help us improve or lower the index of accidents through the drivers and users to induce them to adhere to the established norms and transit regulations in our country."
The official initiated the program in a activity held in the bus-stop at the 9 kilometer marker of the Duarte highway. He said to enforce the disposition, a team of the OTTT accompanied by the military will be supervising the terminals and bus-stops.
From: Dominican Republic
This is truely amusing! The fact that they openly admit that a good number of vehicles on the road are in dire need of repair, is a sign of the realityt of the Dominican lifestyle.
Why just restrict these vehicles over the holiday season?
Having had the opporunity to drive the streets of Santo Domingo in taxis and vans that somehow hold themselves together...without concern for structural integrity, I will assume that all taxis in the capital and Santiago will also be pulled from the streets.
These cars and vans make a rural farmers feed truck look like a brand new car.
On another note...i have noticed over the past few days that AMET is out in full force with thier fund raising campaign. Standing formally at speed bumps and other traffic slowing obsticles, to check for documentation...no regards for missing lights, equipment, overloading or other death enhancements.
continues below....
From: Dominican Republic
Meanwhile...just a 1/4 km to the north of the 6 well dressed officers...writing summons for petty documental infractions....traffic chaos persued at the intersection, with no disapline for lanes or speed.
In any other modern country ( and many nationals would like to think that the DR is a "modern country"), the main purpose of traffic police is not to check for documents, but to fine poor driving habits. If they were to do that...trust me...they would have no shortage of funding!
The Christmas season brings out the best in Dominican driving...ususally by those driving large SUV's....all 16 lights beaming into oncoming traffic, passing on blind corners...and stopping only a mile further up the road...after preforming this death defying manouver of utter stupidity and lack of concern for others.
Please AMET...and other police agencies...go after the driving habits...not only the documentation.
Merry Christmas
PuntaCana Mike
From: United States
well PuntaCanaMike, there is very little i can add to what you just observed, but i have always wondered how it is that there is no vehicle safety inspection in this country. you pay 45 pesos and get a revista sticker. it is only another method of revenue collection for absurdities such as the metro, but serves no other purpose. for that reason, cars with no brakes, headlights, bald tires and other danger -generating maladies are on the streets, with the attendant mayhem which results from such deficiencies. i wonder how they are going to ascertain what should be allowed on the street, and what should not be ,solely by a cursory visual inspection. but these initiatives make for a good sound bite. these poor guys are still operating with stone age methodologies!
Written by: DaniDr, 21 Dec 2007 3:51 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
In my point of view you can drive anything that moves here in the DR. Doesn't matter what safety implications it has against you or other people. The revista is just a sticker, they don't actually insepct anything.
The streets are a mess, specially in santo domingo, and it's getting worse every day. It's got to the point that you can even break the law in front of an amet, they won't do anything. People has lost the respect for the authorities in this matter, and to all other drivers.
I wonder if someone that doesn't stop on a red light thinks that some day another guy won't stop when he's passing and will kill him. What if the guy that skips a red light hits another car? It could be his own wife, kid, friend... It's just a shame.
From: Dominican Republic, SPM
All this is a reason to use the Metro!! But than of course I'd have to drive 70 K to get there.
Written by: Escott, 21 Dec 2007 8:23 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabrera
Comon folks this country is about as much fun as you can have short of getting arrested!
Where else can you drive a motorbike that is 100-125cc's with 6 people 2 chickens 2 kids and a tank of Propane Gas? Of course no helmets but in my car if I don't have a seatbelt on I get a ticket.
Where else in the world can you count on your police and polititians being thieves?
Where else can do you see 30 percent of the population paying for 100 percent of the electricity?
Where else in the world can you get rear ended by a motorcycle and the driver has NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE and be expected to pay for them??
Where else in the world can you be stopped at a traffic stop by police just looking for Christmas presents?
Where else in the world can you fly out and the customs agent checking your passport asks for a tip?
Where else can you go where the customs agents ask for a tip not to search your bags whether you have anything in them or now?
Written by: Escott, 21 Dec 2007 8:31 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabrera
Where else in the world can you have cars, trucks, motorcycles driving at night without LIGHTS because they expect you to see them because you should ALWAYS be driving with your brights on?
Where else in the world can you see two people stop to chat on a major road stopping traffic in both direction and when you honk your horn they look at you like you have 12 eyes in your head and are some sort of alien?
This place is crazy but I love it and we have the most beautiful women in the world who can dance like you wouldn't believe!
Written by: BobK1, 22 Dec 2007 6:56 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Escott that was funny.
However last night I drove from SD to Cabarete. It didn't seem like any of the clunkers were missing. The highway was full of them. If they took them off the road then they sure missed a bunch. I had to peel my hands off the steering wheel when I got home.
Oh and where do you put our rivista (safety inspection sticker) if you have no front windshield???
Bob K
Written by: joopjoop, 22 Dec 2007 10:08 AM
From: Dominican Republic, San Pedro de Macoris
Go Escott Go !!!
BTW ever tried to bribe a cop with a zip of alcohol in another country .. !?!
Works here for me .. and we are always both happy ..
Written by: DaniDr, 22 Dec 2007 11:43 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Me? Bribe a cop? Never, why would I if I have all my documents and everything is in order.... They never even asked me for anything... Cops are nice and respectful.... Oh look! Flying horses!
Written by: Escott, 22 Dec 2007 3:25 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Sosua/Cabrera
That was a flying elephant not a horse. You need your eyes checked or something?
I was stopped today and I asked for what reason and the cop said it was Christmas! I asked him if he had a present for me...
Written by: DaniDr, 22 Dec 2007 9:40 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Escott, I've been there many times. Specially a few years ago when I lived in Sosúa. It's interesting that you actually get used to that, but the first times my pulse would rise and start feeling nervous. Not anymore.
Written by: dagtan, 22 Dec 2007 11:05 PM
From: United States
Traffic in the Dominican Republic is a nightmare. The government does not have the backbone or expertise to even realize that the mojority of cars in the Dominican Republic are in bad shape. To expect Dominicans to drive better cars is unrealistic and stupid. create better jobs and economy so people can purchase a car. Does the government knows that less than 40% of Dominicans own a car or have owned a car in their lifetime. I left the Dominican Republic at an early age, so I have become detach a little. As far as I know, my family hve owned a landcruiser for more than 15 years, here in the US we actually replace our cars every 125-200k miles.
Written by: DaniDr, 22 Dec 2007 11:13 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
@dagtan: And that taking into account that the cars suffer very much since the roads are in such bad conditions. Although a lot of the traffic is caused by some idiots that prefer to block traffic in order to be 1 car ahead of you. It's just totally out of control.
Even though, I try to be nice and drive defensively.
Written by: snap3400, 23 Dec 2007 6:57 AM
From: United States
Hello Mr President.
Does anyone in your Government read any of these comments.
They are all TRUE and the voice of the people
Written by: dagtan, 23 Dec 2007 9:56 AM
From: United States
I do not think that they care about what the people have to say. I have to honest, I have become so disapointed that I have only returned twice in the last 19 years. I do not feel comfortable in the Dominican Republic as I see so many poor people and peple living in such dire conditions. I have friends that own condos and own shares even at cap cana, but I refuse to do so, becuase this money goes to a small group of corrupts. I believe that those Dominicans that left for the U.S. and have become sucessful academically and professionally have to take a more active role in the inernational arena. I mean, to call out on the corruption and the inequalities that exists in the D.R. we the educated and professional Dominicans that live in the U.S. and are enjoying the fruit of being middle upper and upper class status here, must act adn try to change things. Instead of going over there and drive Range Rover and take advatage of our women, giving them false hope so they open their legs
From: United States
actually, Dagtan, we understand that the majority of dominicans cannot afford to drive better cars, but they can afford to maintain the ones they do have. i watch guys leaving bars on motorcycles at 12am, and the cycles have no headlights. meanwhile, the guy just drank 5 grande presidentes. the bulb for the bike costs probably 40 pesos, but he will drink 300 pesos worth of beer rather than put a bulb in his vehicle. then he will get hit by a motorist who cannot see him, and blame the other guy! folks here have no sense of priorities nor personal responsibilities. the government does not help, because it will not institute mandatory vehicle safety inspections.
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Why just restrict these vehicles over the holiday season?
Having had the opporunity to drive the streets of Santo Domingo in taxis and vans that somehow hold themselves together...without concern for structural integrity, I will assume that all taxis in the capital and Santiago will also be pulled from the streets.
These cars and vans make a rural farmers feed truck look like a brand new car.
On another note...i have noticed over the past few days that AMET is out in full force with thier fund raising campaign. Standing formally at speed bumps and other traffic slowing obsticles, to check for documentation...no regards for missing lights, equipment, overloading or other death enhancements.
continues below....
In any other modern country ( and many nationals would like to think that the DR is a "modern country"), the main purpose of traffic police is not to check for documents, but to fine poor driving habits. If they were to do that...trust me...they would have no shortage of funding!
The Christmas season brings out the best in Dominican driving...ususally by those driving large SUV's....all 16 lights beaming into oncoming traffic, passing on blind corners...and stopping only a mile further up the road...after preforming this death defying manouver of utter stupidity and lack of concern for others.
Please AMET...and other police agencies...go after the driving habits...not only the documentation.
Merry Christmas
PuntaCana Mike
The streets are a mess, specially in santo domingo, and it's getting worse every day. It's got to the point that you can even break the law in front of an amet, they won't do anything. People has lost the respect for the authorities in this matter, and to all other drivers.
I wonder if someone that doesn't stop on a red light thinks that some day another guy won't stop when he's passing and will kill him. What if the guy that skips a red light hits another car? It could be his own wife, kid, friend... It's just a shame.
Where else can you drive a motorbike that is 100-125cc's with 6 people 2 chickens 2 kids and a tank of Propane Gas? Of course no helmets but in my car if I don't have a seatbelt on I get a ticket.
Where else in the world can you count on your police and polititians being thieves?
Where else can do you see 30 percent of the population paying for 100 percent of the electricity?
Where else in the world can you get rear ended by a motorcycle and the driver has NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE and be expected to pay for them??
Where else in the world can you be stopped at a traffic stop by police just looking for Christmas presents?
Where else in the world can you fly out and the customs agent checking your passport asks for a tip?
Where else can you go where the customs agents ask for a tip not to search your bags whether you have anything in them or now?
Where else in the world can you see two people stop to chat on a major road stopping traffic in both direction and when you honk your horn they look at you like you have 12 eyes in your head and are some sort of alien?
This place is crazy but I love it and we have the most beautiful women in the world who can dance like you wouldn't believe!
However last night I drove from SD to Cabarete. It didn't seem like any of the clunkers were missing. The highway was full of them. If they took them off the road then they sure missed a bunch. I had to peel my hands off the steering wheel when I got home.
Oh and where do you put our rivista (safety inspection sticker) if you have no front windshield???
Bob K
BTW ever tried to bribe a cop with a zip of alcohol in another country .. !?!
Works here for me .. and we are always both happy ..
I was stopped today and I asked for what reason and the cop said it was Christmas! I asked him if he had a present for me...
Even though, I try to be nice and drive defensively.
Does anyone in your Government read any of these comments.
They are all TRUE and the voice of the people