HAVANA, June 25 (NNN-ACN) — At the close of the January-May period, Cuba reported a decrease in traffic accidents and injuries, while the number of deaths increased amid sustained growth in the vehicle fleet, primarily of vulnerable vehicles such as motorcycles and mopeds.
The analysis of accidents, their causes and conditions, with an emphasis on the actions planned for the summer, was the focus of a meeting of the National Road Safety Commission, which was chaired by videoconference by Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, deputy prime minister, and Eduardo Rodriguez Davila, minister of transport.
Colonel Roberto Fernandez Rodriguez, of the General Directorate of the National Revolutionary Police, stated that all three indicators increased in the central provinces of Villa Clara, Ciego de Avila, and Cienfuegos, with the most difficult situation being in the first two provinces, which, along with Havana, also registered the largest increases in fatalities.
According to the source, human factors continue being the main causes of accidents, including failure to pay attention to vehicle control, which was present in 30 % of the accidents.
The representative of the General Police Directorate emphasized those accidents due to vehicle malfunctions have decreased.
He reported that accidents due to driving under the influence of alcohol have decreased, with Camagüey reporting unfavorable figures in all three indicators.
Colonel Fernandez Rodriguez indicated that, as part of the rigor of the confrontation, 1,416 administrative measures were also applied, including driver’s license suspensions, and the courts imposed 17 additional sanctions.
Overall, he said, accidents have been contained, and work continues to increase prevention and address the main causes of accidents, with priority given to serious incidents, including motorcycles and mopeds, which account for the highest number of fatalities.
At the meeting, the deputy PM and the minister of transport noted that, in order to continue reducing accidents and road indiscipline with the near summer, a thorough review of roads, including railways, and especially mass transportation is urgently needed. — NNN-ACN
