A total of 700 people lost their lives in Cuba in traffic accidents in 2022, which represents an 18% increase compared to those who died from this cause in 2021 (589), the state press reported on Tuesday.
According to the head of the specialized body for Traffic of the General Directorate of Police, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez, quoted by the newspaper Granmathe Island registered 9,848 claims last year, an increase of 17% compared to 2021, a year of lower mobility due to measures to mitigate covid-19 infections.
Pedestrian collisions accounted for 22% of the deaths, according to the newspaper, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba
Pedestrian run overs accounted for 22% of the deaths, according to the newspaper, the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC). In total, the injured totaled 7,547, an annual increase of 28%, added the official, who mentioned as causes, as usual, social “indiscipline” and the “additional irruption of nearly 300,000 motorcycles and mopeds on the same road axis “.
“More than half of the accidents (53.2%) were due to collisions with moving vehicles, even though only 7.6% (753) had unfavorable road conditions, with potholes or cracks,” he stated.
Just two days ago the official newspaper of Matanzas, Girón, published a collaboration of a journalism student which denounced the influence of the poor condition of the roads in the high accident rate on the Island.
“It is impossible to separate these facts from the marked deterioration of the roads, primary and secondary, as well as the deficient presence of signs on the different sections of the roads. For their part, public lighting and traffic lights on the busiest arteries, sometimes , do not work properly,” read the note.
The criticism did not stop there and based on data from the National Information and Statistics Office (Onei) the fall in investments in transport, which decreased from 11.7% in 2021 to 10.2% in 2022.
“No one doubts the financial limitations of the country and, especially in the transport sector, but one might wonder if a truly appropriate job is being carried out in technical inspections”
The text also mentioned the Cuban automobile fleet. “Although there are no statistics in this regard, at first glance it denotes a high degree of antiquity. A good part of the cars date from the 50s, the so-called almendrones, or from the 90s of the 20th century, brought from the former Soviet Union” , added.
Idael Valdés Martínez, author of the note, also blurted out: “No one doubts the financial limitations of the country and, especially in the transport sector, but one might wonder if a truly appropriate job is being carried out in the technical inspections of vehicles, since In many cases people approach them and, at first glance, realize that they do not meet the conditions to drive on the road and thus expose the safety of pedestrians and drivers”.
According to the data provided yesterday, Havana, Holguín, Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba registered the highest reports and increase in accidents by province.
The mortality rate was 6.2 per 100,000 inhabitants; while Sunday was the deadliest day with one death for every 10 accidents. The age of the victims ranged from 26 to 35 years.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio He is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for accompanying us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
