The latest official statistics on traffic accidents in Cuba they report that between January and September 2022, more than 7,000 events of this type were recorded on the island.
The exact number of accidents that occurred in the first nine months of the year is 7,302, which represents a slight decrease compared to similar periods in previous years, according to an office of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
At compile time there were 507 deceased and 5,498 injured by events of this nature, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez, head of the Specialized Traffic Organ, of the General Directorate of the Cuban Police, said this Friday during a press conference reported by the media.
The police officer warned about the fact that the main reasons for these accidents are repeated, among them, not paying due attention to driving the vehicle, disrespecting the right of way and speeding.
It also transpired that most accidents occur during the day in urban areas and residential sectors, between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM, and between 3:00 and 6 PM. The provinces with the highest incidence were Havana , Artemisa, Ciego de Ávila and Guantánamo, according to Rodríguez.
The officer commented that families and society as a whole can contribute “decisively” to the road education of citizens and that, in this sense, the agencies of the Central State Administration have the maximum responsibility, according to Law 109 Code of Road safety.
Likewise, he pointed out that the human element is “the most responsible” in most of these events due to the loss of concentration when driving while talking on the cell phone, lighting a cigarette or tobacco, talking with his companions or another action. dissociative
Ignoring the right of way, as well as traffic signals, changing lanes or lanes, making inappropriate turns, increasing speed, particularly when the pavement is wet or slippery, the low risk perception of pedestrians and drivers, roads in poor condition and aging vehicle fleet were also mentioned among the main causes of accidents in the country.
Traffic accidents in Cuba: two daily deaths on average so far this year
Regarding the increase in the circulation of mopeds, by virtue of the official decision that they can be imported, Rodríguez confirmed that there is an increase in their participation in traffic accidents.
In the press conference it was also learned that Cuba has a Strategic Plan for the period 2018-2030 with a view to reducing accidents by 50%, as well as the deaths, injuries and economic losses that they cause, with the aim to achieve an “effective inclusion of road safety education at all levels of the education system”, specifies the ACN.
Specialists consider that the planned actions should encourage the Island to be among the countries with low accident rates, if social policies, comprehensive development programs, and basic services in the education and health sectors are taken into account.
Last May, the National Traffic Directorate had revealed a report which indicated the occurrence of an average of 27 traffic accidents per day, in which two people die and another 30 are injured.
The document compiled the 4,602 events that occurred between January and May of this year, and noted that these figures exceeded those of a similar interval in the two previous years, although they were lower compared to what was recorded in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
