Traffic Accidents In Cuba Soar In 1st Half Of 2012

August 09, 2012 13:50 PM

Traffic Accidents In Cuba Soar In 1st Half Of 2012

HAVANA, Aug 9 (BERNAMA-NNN-XINHUA) -- A total of 363 people were killed
in Cuba's traffic accidents in the first half of this year, a 13.4
percent increase over the same period last year, official figures showed
Wednesday.

A total of 5,367 traffic accidents were recorded during Jan-June, the
highest number in 12 years, the official daily Granma said quoting a
police report.

The number of injured in road accidents rose to 4,388, also the highest
since 2000.

The report blamed the unregulated "bicitaxis" or bicycle taxis for the
rising number of accidents especially in urban areas. The service
emerged only after the government opened the door to limited private
enterprise.

Traffic police have been working to crack down on the illicit service,
detaining more than 2,000 bicitaxi drivers in the first half of the year.

To reduce the number of accidents, authorities last year introduced
stiffer penalties for speeding and drunk driving.

-- BERNAMA-NNN-XINHUA

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