New moves for road safety in Cabarete

posted on: May 26 2011 9:5 by The Reporter. Viewed 1621 times.


If the traffic situation in Cabarete is getting you down, then you may be pleased to hear that local police have joined forces with two semi-retired law-enforcement officers from Canada to improve the road situation.
Leon Alter & Jacques Patry formerly from Quebec, now in Cabarete, both with many years of experience in traffic law have pitched in to encourage local road users to adhere to road laws a little more keenly for the safety and well-being of all.
Under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Hamlet A. Novas Febrreras (Policia Nacional), the two Canadians are helping to educate local officers and road users on the rules of the road.
The first job already in hand is to encourage drivers to use lights on their vehicles when conditions merit, and to make sure that all of their lights are functioning properly.
Vehicles without lights are being pulled over every evening at various points in Cabarete. For the first couple of weeks, Leon says that police were only giving out warnings to drivers not using lights. After the initial grace period, penalties will be issued.
According to local police, there have been a recorded 26 deaths over the last couple of years directly attributed to vehicles at night not using lights.
The other problem in Cabarete, says Leon, is the parking situation in the center. The road is not wide enough for parking both on sides. Yet vehicles consistently block the only route through, despite AMET’s efforts so far.
For most of us, its just an annoyance when we get held up as two vehicles struggle to pass in the crowded high street, but a more serious problem is when emergency vehicles need to get through, but are held up.
Plans for a new tow truck to be permanently in operation are in progress.
Other suggestions the newcomers hope to be able to enact are well-marked public parking, speed bumps to stop traffic speeding through the center, clear painted lines on the road so drivers can see where they should not park, and allocated parking for taxis and motoconchos.
The general idea is to make Cabarete safer for tourists and locals.
Leon and Jacques plan to be here for at least two years, working in conjunction with local road safety officers to improve the road in and around Cabarete.
If you would like to get involved, you can contact Leon or Jacques directly at lee.alter@hotmail.com or the Cabarete Police Department 809-571-0810.

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