Actions to Prevent Traffic Accidents not enough in Sancti Spiritus

SANCTI SPIRITUS, Cuba, Feb 16 (ACN) The notable increase of traffic accidents in the province of Sancti Spiritus in the last two years demonstrates that the actions developed in the territory to prevent the misfortunes is not enough or are not effective, according to the Provincial Traffic Safety Commission.

During the annual assembly, the authorities insisted in the need to act with more severity before negligence that provoke situations of this nature.

Sancti Spiritus registers a growth of over 100 accidents each year since 2016 and is on the list, alongside Matanzas, Artemisa and Pinar del Rio among the provinces that grew in the number of traffic accidents in 2017, in addition to deaths and injured.

Last year 292 more accidents took place in Cuba last year compared to 2016 although the number of deaths (17) and injured (210) decreased.

Lt. Colonel Roberto Rodriguez Fernandez, head of the National Traffic Directive told ACN that due to a reduction in the number of deaths and injured, the country shows a discrete decrease in the danger index.

However, the official from the Revolutionary National Police added, that accidents were high in 2017, with reports of one injured every hour and a death every 12 hours due to a traffic accident.

Since January 1st until December 31st of last year there were 11 thousand 187 accidents in which almost 8 thousand people were injured and another 750 deaths.

The province of Sancti Spiritus reported 477 accidents, 119 more than in 2016 with 30 death and 389 injured.

During the encounter, specialists insisted in the high administrative responsibility in the state sector as the majority of the vehicles circulating on the streets were without the required technical inspection and in many cases in non-working days.

This situation indicated, according to the analysis, a lack of concern of the officials in charge in controlling discipline and compliance to the traffic regulations.

Among the projects of the Traffic Safety Commission in Sancti Spiritus for 2018 and in an attempt to reduce, the accidents are proposals to reduce speed in urban zones with heavy vehicle and pedestrian areas.

The Agriculture Ministry was recommended not to authorize the possession of cattle to those that do not own land, taking into account that the number of accidents due to loose animals in the roads were high.

There was major emphasis in the technical inspections to avoid the circulation of vehicles in bad conditions above all direction and brakes.