PLD Warns of Worsening Traffic and Road Safety in the Dominican Republic

Traffic congestion, unsafe driving practices and gaps in transportation planning have become central concerns in a new warning from the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), which says the country’s mobility problems are affecting daily life and economic activity.

During a press conference, party leader Temístocles Montás described a combination of overcrowded roads, vehicles parked on sidewalks, double parking and traffic violations by motorcyclists that, according to the PLD, make everyday travel increasingly difficult for residents.

The party argued that these conditions cost people productive hours and complicate journeys to workplaces, schools, universities and healthcare facilities. It also called for mobility and road safety to become higher priorities in public policy.

PLD questions continuity of transportation plans

Montás criticized what the party described as a lack of continuity in transportation initiatives that had begun to produce positive results. The PLD did not identify specific programs or provide a detailed assessment of their performance in the remarks summarized at the press conference.

The organization said the country needs to expand and improve public transportation while continuing to develop major road infrastructure. Its proposals include elevated roads, tunnels, avenues, metro lines and grade-separated intersections.

However, the party argued that construction alone will not resolve the country’s mobility challenges. It called for more effective enforcement of traffic laws and better regulation of vehicle circulation, including measures addressing illegal parking and violations involving motorcycles.

Road safety remains a major concern

The PLD also highlighted the human cost of traffic accidents, citing deaths and injuries as evidence that road safety must be addressed alongside congestion and infrastructure.

According to figures presented by Montás, motorcyclists accounted for 66% of traffic fatalities through October of this year. That percentage was attributed to the party leader during the press conference.

Official Dominican road-safety data also point to the significant exposure of motorcyclists. The National Statistics Office (ONE), in its 2025 road-safety infographic, reported that motorcycles and mopeds accounted for 70.48% of traffic deaths recorded at the scene of crashes in 2024. The figures refer to a different reporting period and should not be treated as a direct confirmation of the PLD’s 2026 estimate.

The government’s road-safety observatory, operated by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT), provides official road-safety statistics and monitoring tools covering fatalities and other traffic indicators.

Daily mobility puts pressure on transport systems

The scale of daily travel in the capital region illustrates the challenge facing transport planners. A mobility study presented by INTRANT in October 2026 found that approximately 6.7 million people travel each day across Greater Santo Domingo and its surrounding municipalities.

The study, conducted with technical and financial support from the French Development Agency, the European Union and international consulting firm Systra, surveyed more than 20,000 people in 7,300 households during 2025 and 2026. It identified the National District as the destination for 31.7% of trips and reported approximately 303,000 daily journeys in both directions between Santo Domingo Este and the National District.

Those figures underline the importance of coordinating public transportation, road infrastructure and traffic management across the metropolitan area. They also show why disruptions and inefficient road use can have consequences extending beyond individual commutes.

Enforcement and infrastructure at the center of debate

The PLD’s position places two policy priorities side by side: expanding the country’s transport infrastructure and ensuring that existing roads are used safely and efficiently.

New metro lines, tunnels and grade-separated intersections can increase capacity or improve connections, but their impact depends on how they fit into the wider transport network. Traffic enforcement, pedestrian access, parking regulation and motorcycle safety are also part of the mobility system.

The party urged authorities to give greater attention to these issues and to treat road safety as an essential part of transportation policy. Its remarks add to the public debate over how the Dominican Republic should manage growing travel demand while reducing congestion and the risks faced by drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians.