"If it manages to transform its roads into safe spaces, the country will not only save thousands of lives, but will also strengthen the confidence of those who visit it and those who decide to invest in it.".
SANTO DOMINGO. -According to Statista , a German company specializing in market statistics, consumer studies and sector reports that cites figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) , the Dominican Republic ranks as the second most dangerous country in Latin America to travel in, second only to Haiti, with a record of 27.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Besides the public health problem it represents, road insecurity compromises the country's international reputation, at a time when tourism and foreign investment are pillars of the economy.
The Statista study, published this year, reveals a serious road safety crisis and points out that the Dominican Republic is at a crossroads : reducing the epidemic of traffic accidents to decrease deaths and the high costs that result from them, while at the same time designing a strategy to protect its image and international competitiveness.
Statista indicates that reducing traffic fatalities is not only a public health imperative, but must also safeguard international reputation.
Between February and July 2025, there were 4 major accidents involving tourists , with 12 people killed and more than 50 .
Top accidents involving tourists in 2025
| Date / Event | Type of Incident | Vehicle involved | Those affected |
| April 17, 2025 – El Seibo | Rollover | Tourist bus | 4 minor injuries |
| July 1, 2025 – Coral Highway | Collision with a pickup truck | Bus with tourists | 2 dead, 5 injured |
| July 21, 2025 – Jamao al Norte | Rollover in hiking area | Tourist bus/excursionists | 6 dead, +40 injured |
| February 3, 2025 – Punta Cana | Collision with a barge | Tourist bus | Injured (number not confirmed) |
Roads, crisis and reputation
Tourism is one of the driving forces of the Dominican Republic's economy and is based on a marketing narrative of safety and hospitality, which contrasts with the alarming statistics .
In a world where a destination's reputation is measured not only by its beaches or hotel infrastructure, but also by its safety ratings, every accident is not just a personal tragedy: it is a blow to the country's credibility , since international reports, such as Statista's, appear in online searches for information about the country and are read by organizations, investors, and potential visitors.
According to estimates from the Ombudsman and the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT), around 3,000 people die each year in road accidents in the country, with a pattern that mainly affects motorcyclists and young people under 35 years of age .
The human cost is incalculable, but there are also economic and social consequences: lost productivity, an overburdened hospital system, and high public health expenditures. The National Health Service reported that in 2023, 121,850 people were treated for injuries sustained in traffic accidents , at a total cost exceeding RD$ 130 billion , approximately 2.2% of GDP.
The high accident rate casts a shadow that contradicts the "safe destination" promoted by the tourism sector . According to specialists, the figures project the country as a risky territory for mobility , compared to international markets where this indicator is increasingly evaluated by tourists and investors .
We are all "guilty."
There are a number of factors that are most often cited as the root of the problem; two point to drivers and the other two to state institutions :
– Lack of road safety education, especially among motorcyclists, who account for more than two-thirds of fatalities.
– Recurring violations of traffic regulations , especially speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol.
– Institutional weakness in oversight , with few effective controls.
– Deficient infrastructure, from nonexistent signage to unsafe pedestrian crossings.
The National Pact for Road Safety, promoted by the Presidency with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) , seeks to reverse this trend with a plan that includes stricter penalties, awareness campaigns, the installation of speed cameras, and a points system for driver's licenses, with the goal of reducing deaths by 15% each year until 2030.
With an average of 217 accidents per day , which directly impact public safety, overwhelming emergency and medical services, analysts applaud the initiatives of the National Pact, but agree that the real challenge is cultural : to change the perception that traffic rules are optional and create a collective awareness of the value of life on the roads.
“What we need in this country is a change in culture, in the way all drivers and pedestrians behave, and in the case of motorcycle taxi drivers, they must undergo a thorough road safety education process. It is the most convincing and efficient way to achieve change,” said Mario Holguín, a road safety specialist, in a television interview.
The implementation of the National Pact for Road Safety , institutional strengthening, citizen participation, and structural measures offer a ray of hope, and the key to changing this reality lies in real coordination between the State, civil society, and the private sector, to transform recklessness into road responsibility.
“If it succeeds in transforming its roads into safe spaces, the country will not only save thousands of lives, but will also strengthen the confidence of those who visit it and those who decide to invest in it,” the report concludes.
Statista, Inc. is a German company founded in 2007, with offices in Hamburg (headquarters), New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and other global centers. Its online platform offers data from more than 22,500 sources and is used by universities, media outlets, consulting firms, and businesses worldwide.
