Santo Domingo.- The growth of social media and the use
of so-called smartphones has added a new set of problems to road transport: the
practice of texting while driving.
Many drivers on the nation’s roads and streets have
been observed with their heads down and hands off the wheels. They use the red light as an excuse, but remain distracted after the
light changes to green and the vehicle is moving.
Concentrating on a call and
holding a cellphone can lead to accidents, according to studies, but when the
driver’s vision is distracted, as with texting, the danger increases.
Law 143-01, which prohibits “the use of a cellular or mobile phone (…) while
driving a vehicle or motorbike”, predates the introduction and widespread use
of “smartphones”.
Nonetheless, José Jáquez, spokesman for the Metropolitan Transport Authority
(Amet), says that this law authorizes agents to fine drivers who are texting
because this represents cellphone use.
Since 15 March 2010, Amet has imposed 16,226 fines on drivers using cellphones
at the wheel. The problem could keep growing. Figures from the Dominican
Institute of Telecommunications (Indotel) based on the first nine months of
2010, show 252,694 new mobile phone
accounts, among which the BlackBerry and iPhone type smartphones are gaining
ground.
From: United States
Oh, and drinking too.
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
What day of the week will they enforce it?
Written by: planner, 5 Jan 2011 10:45 AM
From: Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
This is a joke! Look at the vehicles on the road? Look at the number of motorcycle on the road and drivers with no helmets. Or motorcycles with 4 passengers. Carro Publicos that are falling apart - no signals, no lights etc etc
No one should drive operating a cell phone in any way. No one should drive drunk or "caliente". No one should operate these pieces of junk called cars here! No wonder the death and accident rate is so high on our roads.
Written by: danny00, 5 Jan 2011 10:56 AM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
cell phone no cell phone most drive like the fools they are anyway.
and since when does any good dominican respect the laws of the road or in fact any laws?.
they dont give a damn.
they care who they hurt or kill on the road?. not in the least i would say.
Written by: xwill7, 5 Jan 2011 11:50 AM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Fix the pot holes and many might drive better
Written by: danny00, 5 Jan 2011 12:21 PM
From: United States, syosset, key west, santo domingo AND NOW THE GLOBE TROTTER
the pot holes thank god for them. if not for the pot holes no one would slow down. most drive 1,000 miles a hour only time i see them slowing down is when the raod is bad and they just might break some thing in their car and then they would need to pay and the key word is "money" thats when they will slow down not at any other time.
in santiago the other day i was waiting to croos one busy street every car that was making a turn the driver was on his or her cell phone, iam not making it worst but if u drive or even walk in the big cities u know this is true.
Written by: xwill7, 5 Jan 2011 12:55 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
They can't get too strict... The tourists love DR driving rules
Written by: telemeco, 5 Jan 2011 2:49 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Monte Plata
If you text in DR you must be insame, people already drive like crazy, if you take you eye away from the road, motorita, guagua voladora, haitian soliting and the ocational SUV from the rich you are dead....now you also texting you feel pretty invisible
Written by: xwill7, 5 Jan 2011 3:26 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
I have seen people texting while driving the motorcycle...
Written by: ErikWood, 5 Jan 2011 3:55 PM
From: United States
I think this effort will help drivers get the message. It has to start with the end user, the driver...deciding not to partake in distracted driving and this will help drive that message home.
I also decided to do something about teen (and adult) distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool for teens and their parents called OTTER that is a simple, GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. It also silences call ringtones while driving unless you have a bluetooth enabled. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
Written by: xwill7, 5 Jan 2011 4:48 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
Stop the spam! I am tired of these slime balls trying to sneak in free advertising.
From: Dominican Republic, vieja Santo Domingo
i came from Ave Duarte to la Romana in a packed bus today and the driver spent half the journey texting or chatting on his cell until a uniformed police officer went forward to stop him ..so even bus drivers have a basic disregard for the safety of others ..
Written by: ErikWood, 5 Jan 2011 5:20 PM
From: United States
@ XWILL7 - I am the owner of a small company I started when I saw a problem. That problem almost had my three year old taken from me. I read this site's article in its entirety and I posted a relevant comment.
In a market where software responses have been invasive and expensive ($20 to $200 with recurring fees), I created a product that sells for four dollars and, in my opinion, my software should ultimately be free to you - the driver next to me on the way home tonight.
Take a harder look before hurling insults.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
Written by: xwill7, 5 Jan 2011 11:31 PM
From: United States, El cuarto bate
erik,
I was talking about the idiots posting links for garbage products all over this site
From: Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo
Completely agree with "planner"!
But why is like this? If AMET will start giving tickets for real (2000-3000 pesos) in places, where people braking the rules on daily basis, people will just drive more carefuly... Until then, will stay mess...
From: United States
You can Drink and Drive...But you better not be texting....
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Oh, and drinking too.
No one should drive operating a cell phone in any way. No one should drive drunk or "caliente". No one should operate these pieces of junk called cars here! No wonder the death and accident rate is so high on our roads.
and since when does any good dominican respect the laws of the road or in fact any laws?.
they dont give a damn.
they care who they hurt or kill on the road?. not in the least i would say.
in santiago the other day i was waiting to croos one busy street every car that was making a turn the driver was on his or her cell phone, iam not making it worst but if u drive or even walk in the big cities u know this is true.
I think this effort will help drivers get the message. It has to start with the end user, the driver...deciding not to partake in distracted driving and this will help drive that message home.
I also decided to do something about teen (and adult) distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool for teens and their parents called OTTER that is a simple, GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. It also silences call ringtones while driving unless you have a bluetooth enabled. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
In a market where software responses have been invasive and expensive ($20 to $200 with recurring fees), I created a product that sells for four dollars and, in my opinion, my software should ultimately be free to you - the driver next to me on the way home tonight.
Take a harder look before hurling insults.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
I was talking about the idiots posting links for garbage products all over this site
But why is like this? If AMET will start giving tickets for real (2000-3000 pesos) in places, where people braking the rules on daily basis, people will just drive more carefuly... Until then, will stay mess...