Asonahores signs National Road Safety pact

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader signed Decree 656-24 on Monday, declaring road safety a national priority and launching the National Road Safety Plan 2025-2030. The plan will be coordinated by Intrant (National Institute of Traffic and Land Transport) and includes a broad agreement signed by various stakeholders, including Intrant’s Milton Morrison, AIRD’s Julio Brache, Asonahores’ David Llibre, and other key figures from the Movido RD Foundation, Conatra, and Fenatrado.

President Abinader emphasized the government’s openness to collaboration from all sectors to enhance road safety. He highlighted the gravity of the issue, noting that traffic accidents have historically claimed more lives than the pandemic, with over 26,000 people affected from 2016 to 2024. The majority of fatalities occur on weekends, particularly among young people aged 25 to 34, concentrated in Greater Santo Domingo, Santiago, San Cristóbal, and La Altagracia, home to the country’s largest tourist hub, Punta Cana.

The National Road Safety Plan will include technical working groups and workshops to define actions, deadlines, and progress indicators. Key measures include the creation of a victim assistance unit, highway and urban road patrols, discounts on license costs starting in January 2025, and the introduction of road safety education in schools. Additionally, fines will be digital, driving licenses will be based on points starting in 2025, and traffic fines will be enforced according to Law No. 63-17. These initiatives aim to drive long-term cultural and educational change to improve road safety in the Dominican Republic.