Does anybody know if this is prohibited in the DR and whether or not it is tested if drivers are under influence?

I heard about the breathalizer test being adopted, but I don't know if it was ever implemented, buenaoha.

Yes, it's prohibitted by law. But it's mostly uncontrolled. There was a time last year when they started a campaign to give alcohol-meters to the police, but this was mostly a PR stunt, as the police don't have the neede supplies to continue using them.

Impressively enough, there are many many car drive-thrus that sell ONLY alcoholic beverages, and such practice is not illegal. It's not uncommon to see a car going to such places with only the driver in the car, where it's clearly visible that he's going to drink and drive. The only moment the police appear, is they come to get their free drinks from the owner.

Actually, it's even strange that a police will stop you while driving.

I would like to see statistics of road accidents in the DR. Is the rate with which this occurs higher than in other countries in the region?

So many people die in road accidents in the DR!

I would like government to pursue policies that try to decrease the number of deaths year on year.

I have a cousin that just died last Saturday due to a road accident in between La Romana and San Pedro. He hit a light post, while speeding and drunk driving around 3.00AM.

I suppose the police does not have means to check if speed limits are exceeded (are there speed limits on highways?). They should put speeding flashes, and send people fines at home like happens in the developed countries.

I'm sorry for your loss.

In my opinion the firts thing the govmt. must implement is conscience. Some crude/strong ads showing people having an accident (like spain did), and the amets starting to control what is obvious. People drive without for respect to others or the lay, speeding, doing dangerous manuvers, running red lights. You don't need flashes or new equipment to control that, what you need is to stop the driver and fine them at least 10,000 pesos, so the next time he'll think twice.

The problem is that even authorities are now used to "the way" we drive in the DR.

Thanks DaniDR.

My condolences to you too buenaoha. Sorry for your loss

I normally rent a car everytime I visit the DR! The first thing I do when I get behind the wheel at Cibao or La Union is to completely forget about any laws related to driving! Why, I've experienced that if you follow the driving laws in the DR the more likely you will have something bad happen to you! Barely no one else is following the laws! By following the laws you're doing just the opposite of what the majority of the other drivers are doing! When I Rome....drive like a Roman.... with a beer!

In many aspects this is true. And always remember, the other drivers are trying desperately to either crash you, or race you

Sorry for your loss Buenonah.

I really don't see how the gov't should be held responsible for road accidents due to speeding and drunkenness. A person becomes an adult at the age of 18 meaning that they are responsible for their own actions and hopefully need little to no supervision. So when some one gets in a car drunk and starts speeding at 80 mph to the next colmado two blocks away and gets to the counter inside the colmando without even having to get out of the car, its no one else's fault but the driver. Alcohol does not cause accidents nor speeding. Its the person who chooses to break the law by operating a vehicle under the influence.

The gov't creates laws and I do agree that they should enforce it, but they are not babysitters either.