The Dominican Republic faces a severe public health emergency as traffic accidents continue to claim thousands of lives annually, establishing themselves as one of the nation’s leading causes of premature death. According to comprehensive data from the National Statistics Office (ONE), the country’s traffic fatality rate reached 20.02 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024, with dramatic variations observed across different provinces.
Statistical analysis reveals troubling geographical disparities, with Samaná province recording the most alarming fatality rate at 44.96 per 100,000 inhabitants, resulting in over 35 traffic-related deaths in 2024 alone. La Altagracia and San José de Ocoa followed with concerning rates of 41.49 and 40.31 respectively, each averaging approximately 32 annual fatalities. In contrast, the province of Santo Domingo (8.31) and the National District (9.92) demonstrated significantly lower incidence rates.
The human toll extends beyond mortality statistics, with the Permanent Road Safety Observatory (Opsevi) documenting 104,466 traffic-related injuries as of August this year. San José de Ocoa recorded the highest injury rate at 451.08 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed closely by the National District (446.19) and Puerto Plata (344.58).
Demographic analysis reveals disturbing patterns in victim profiles. Between 2020-2024, the country averaged 1,728 fatal traffic accidents annually, with males accounting for a disproportionate 87.91% of fatalities compared to 12.09% for females. Particularly concerning is the concentration of deaths among youth, with 53% of 2024’s fatalities occurring in the 15-34 age demographic, highlighting their extreme vulnerability on Dominican roads.