NewsWhore
03-30-2010, 04:20 PM
Comparable to the annual Thanksgiving exodus in the US, the Easter holiday peak travel time starts gradually on Wednesday, 31 March and picks up pace the afternoon of Thursday, 1 April. Hundreds of thousands of city dwellers are expected to exit Santo Domingo and Santiago for socializing in smaller cities, beaches or mountain resorts.
For the occasion, the Emergency Operations Center is posting 40,000 volunteers, including 20,000 civilians, along the main thoroughfares and at beach and mountain destinations to monitor and assist travelers.
During Easter 2008, 31 people were killed in 147 traffic accidents. In 2009 there were 56 deaths and 107 accidents. "We hope to reduce these figures with these controls," said COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez. The COE brings together the Red Cross, Civil Defense Corps and all government organizations dealing with public security and safety.
Mendez warned that statistics show most accidents are caused by drunk motorcycle drivers. He said they would confiscate vehicles from anyone found driving when drunk.
Civil Defense Corps director General Antonio Luna Paulino said that 75% of all accidents occurring during the holiday are alcohol-related.
There will be 2,461 aid posts, 127 ambulances on duty, 3 helicopters, 3 mobile hospitals and 9 command posts, all strategically located. From Thursday at noon all cargo and heavy truck transport is restricted to special authorization holders.
Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) statistics show that there are 52 critical points to watch out for on thoroughfares. These are kms14, 15, 17, 40, 43 (Villa Altagracia exit), and 60, 68, 89 (Bonao exit) of the Duarte highway. For travelers going west, take special care near the Lucas Diaz Bridge, and at km10 (Hatillo) and km15 (San Cristobal).
For more details, see the Civil Defense and Emergency Operations Center web pages at www.defensacivil.gob.do (http://www.defensacivil.gob.do) and www.coe.gov.do/newcoe/ (http://www.coe.gov.do/newcoe/)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
For the occasion, the Emergency Operations Center is posting 40,000 volunteers, including 20,000 civilians, along the main thoroughfares and at beach and mountain destinations to monitor and assist travelers.
During Easter 2008, 31 people were killed in 147 traffic accidents. In 2009 there were 56 deaths and 107 accidents. "We hope to reduce these figures with these controls," said COE director General Juan Manuel Mendez. The COE brings together the Red Cross, Civil Defense Corps and all government organizations dealing with public security and safety.
Mendez warned that statistics show most accidents are caused by drunk motorcycle drivers. He said they would confiscate vehicles from anyone found driving when drunk.
Civil Defense Corps director General Antonio Luna Paulino said that 75% of all accidents occurring during the holiday are alcohol-related.
There will be 2,461 aid posts, 127 ambulances on duty, 3 helicopters, 3 mobile hospitals and 9 command posts, all strategically located. From Thursday at noon all cargo and heavy truck transport is restricted to special authorization holders.
Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) statistics show that there are 52 critical points to watch out for on thoroughfares. These are kms14, 15, 17, 40, 43 (Villa Altagracia exit), and 60, 68, 89 (Bonao exit) of the Duarte highway. For travelers going west, take special care near the Lucas Diaz Bridge, and at km10 (Hatillo) and km15 (San Cristobal).
For more details, see the Civil Defense and Emergency Operations Center web pages at www.defensacivil.gob.do (http://www.defensacivil.gob.do) and www.coe.gov.do/newcoe/ (http://www.coe.gov.do/newcoe/)
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)