Road crisis: Accidents involving heavy vehicles leave more than 160 dead in 2026
Road safety in the Dominican Republic is going through a critical moment. During the first months of 2026, traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, and minibuses, have claimed the lives of at least 165 people, becoming one of the main concerns for authorities and specialists in the field.
Reports from the Permanent Observatory on Road Safety (Opsevi), under the supervision of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), confirm that these fatalities are directly linked to the operation of cargo and passenger transport units. For its part, the General Directorate of Traffic and Land Transportation Safety (Digesett) recorded 154 deaths and 599 injured people between January 1 and June 2 of the current year.
Determining factors: Vehicle condition and lack of infrastructure
Road safety experts point out that the high accident rate is the result of a dangerous combination: ignorance of Mobility Law 63-17, mechanical deficiencies in the national fleet, and insufficient infrastructure for freight traffic.
These heavy vehicles, for the most part, almost 90%, are in poor condition and have several years of use, which results in many of the problems we see on public roads.
Mario Holguín, executive president of the Dignity Network Foundation.Holguín emphasized that the country lacks roads designed specifically for freight transport, which forces trucks to travel through urban centers, increasing congestion and accelerating the deterioration of the roads.
Enforcement: The key to reducing accident rates?
Faced with the debate over whether circulation hours should be restricted, voices such as José Urtecho, from Tráfico Expreso, advocate for more rigorous and permanent oversight. According to Urtecho, Digesett operations have revealed common flaws such as bald tires and a lack of signage, elements that put all drivers at risk.
- Control balance: Between January and June 2026, Digesett carried out more than 16,300 inspections.
- Coercive measures: More than 1,200 units have been impounded for serious infractions.
- Current regulations: Resolution 003-2026 prohibits the use of the left lane for heavy vehicles and requires strict safety measures for the transport of loose cargo.
The role of road safety education
The long-term solution, according to specialists, lies in education. Following the mandate of Law 63-17, Intrant has promoted initiatives such as the road safety education parks in Ciudad Juan Bosch and the “Traffic Guardians” program. The goal is clear: to foster a culture of respect for the rules from an early age to transform the behavior of future drivers and reduce the safety gap that currently affects Dominican roads.
