Article to be considered for online publication in the Resident and
Students Association
Why is the Dominican Republic the
most feared place to drive?
Author: Angela Rosalia BanksPaulino
Email: abankspau@gmail.com
Iberoamerican University (UNIBE)
For decades the road safety in the Dominican Republic has been
a social concern which significantly threatens the lives of citizens,
especially the motorcyclist and pedestrians, most vulnerable population to a
traffic accident. However, we may have been underestimating the seriousness of
the situation.
During a clinical rotation through the ED at the Dr. Ney
Arias Lora Traumatology Ho spital, leader in poly-traumatized patient’s care, I
got a clear view of the impact of traffic accidents to public health, factor
that according to Eng. Mario Holguin, director of the Road Safety Network, is threatening
to take away the lives of more than 30,000 people in the next 7 years.
Dominican Republic ranks second among the countries with
more deaths in the world relative to its population, with a rate of 41.7 per
100,000 inhabitants, which is only surpassed by the Niue Island, with an index
of 68.3 for its 1,500 inhabitants (1).
"The Catastrophic Indicators of 2013" report
reveals that in the 36 months between 2011-2013, there were recorded in the Department
of statistics of the Metropolitan Authority of Transport of the Dominican
Republic, 12,797 traffic accidents that left 5,494 fatal victims at the time of
the road tragedy and 12,391 injured (2).
Sinister vials accidents were the leading cause of death by
violence in the Dominican Republic in the 2011-2012 periods, according to the
Ministry of Public Health and the Metropolitan Authority of Transport,
overcoming child deaths by 3% (Fig.1) (3).
In addition to the human losses, traffic accidents cause
catastrophic economic misbalances, considering the expenses generated by
acquisition of therapeutic methods, the investigation of the accident and the
reduced productivity of the injured or deceased. (4)
Dr. Felix Hernandez, director of the Dr. Ney Arias Lora
Traumatology Hospital, declared that the alarming number of patients admitted
to the Centre due to traffic accidents and the soaring costs that they
represent for the hospital, the Dominican State and of course, the patient and
their families is highly elevated.
How much it costs to the Dominican
Republic a traffic accident in 2013? According to Eng. Holguin, 66 times
the GDP per capita. (Holguin M, personal statement, July 2014). In addition, the Catastrophic Indicators
report establishes that to this day, a traffic accident with victims costs an
average of 17 million pesos to the Dominican Republic (2).
It is a fact that the country demands a sustainable road
safety plan with a view to stop this asphalt monster that’s indiscriminately
growing and for which we are all at risk.
Fortunately, efforts have gathered for a project of law
regarding mobility, traffic, transportation and road safety, a strategy that
seeks to nip the postponement to the resolution of this situation and that is
currently being evaluated by the legislature.
As a future doctor and Dominican citizen, concerned about
the large number of preventable deaths, I hope there’s a team work between the health
sector and the relevant institutions to combat this evil. Ultimately, road
safety is everyone's responsibility and prevention is the best weapon to defeat
mortality rate due to traffic accidents.
REFERENCES
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