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12-06-2004, 04:21 PM
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Silver
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Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 103
(10)
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Driving in DR
How safe is it driving in DR?, and what is the speed limit? When I was there, it wasn't something I through about. I found the local transportation (bus) was excellent.
Karen
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12-06-2004, 04:25 PM
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Gold
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Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,043
(10)
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by karenssp
How safe is it driving in DR?, and what is the speed limit? When I was there, it wasn't something I through about. I found the local transportation (bus) was excellent.
Karen
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You need to watch for anything coming out of anywhere.
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12-06-2004, 04:41 PM
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Silver
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 172
(10)
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Bueno....
I suppose that speed limits do exist but mostly it's up to the driver, the car and the road conditions that seem to dictate the limit..
If you are driving at night , do be careful. Potholes are a fact of life. As Jimmydr posts, watch out for and be prepared for anything. People, animals and of course potholes.
Apart from that, I enjoy driving here. It's a great way to see and enjoy the DR. Have fun!!
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12-06-2004, 05:12 PM
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On Permanent Vacation!
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,484
(10)
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When driving in the DR, keep in mind the old adage: 'It's a jungle out there'. Once driving on the highway near Villa Altagracia, under a clear blue sky, a rock shattered my windshield, and on another occasion, returning from San Juan de la Maguana, on a moonless night, a truck turned on its brights a couple of hundred yards in front on me on a hill, and when he passed by, there it was, a black cow, basking in the middle of the black pavement, less than fifteen yards away. I almost overturned on slamming on the brakes, and I swear I saw the cow jump over the car at the sound of the screeching tires.
A good idea is to pick up one or two soldiers or policemen hitchhikers on the way out of town, they're always there, more so if you're trying to bootleg something from one end of the island to the other.
Mirador
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12-06-2004, 07:51 PM
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Silver
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 129
(10)
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Speed Limit??...Huh??
Just be EXTRA carefull.
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12-06-2004, 09:14 PM
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Silver
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 426
(48)
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mirador
A good idea is to pick up one or two soldiers or policemen hitchhikers on the way out of town, they're always there, more so if you're trying to bootleg something from one end of the island to the other.
Mirador
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Yeah right, that's how I got robbed the first and only time in Dominican Republic!!!
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12-06-2004, 10:33 PM
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On Permanent Vacation!
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,484
(10)
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mido, you probably got one of the fake ones. I know, sometimes it's hard to tell, but military discipline is very noticeable. So next time, if in doubt, drive off.
Mirador
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12-06-2004, 10:44 PM
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Gold
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 508
(157)
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It's really, really fun..........
Quote:
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Originally Posted by karenssp
How safe is it driving in DR?, and what is the speed limit? When I was there, it wasn't something I through about. I found the local transportation (bus) was excellent.
Karen
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..........it's, like, better than the best video game ever. And much more realistic 
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12-07-2004, 01:02 AM
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Silver
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 426
(48)
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Mirador
mido, you probably got one of the fake ones. I know, sometimes it's hard to tell, but military discipline is very noticeable. So next time, if in doubt, drive off.
Mirador
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Mirador,
that actually happened between Santiago and Puerto Plata.
I was stopped (still new hear many years ago) by the police at the first checkpoint leaving Santiago and was asked if I can give a ride to a uniformed officer to Puerto Plata, just before arriving in Puerto Plata he pulled a gun and robbed me.
As I said before, it happened many years ago but I still don't consider this a save way of travel. It might be, if you really know the military or police officers as friends who you give the ride.
Never give anybody a ride if you don't know them, uniform or not!!!
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12-07-2004, 04:44 AM
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Bronze
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 8
(10)
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Don't drive
Don't drive unless you are very experienced with driving in developing countries.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (regional office of the WHO) 3.000 people die every year in the Dominican Republic due to traffic accidents. In a country with just 8 million people that is severe and traffic accidents is one of the leading causes of death. There are rules of the road and the government launched a plan (I thinkt it was a couple of years ago) to enforce them and reduce the amount of accidents, but there is still a long way to go, especially as more people get motor vehicles.
Traffic accidents WORLDWIDE (I don't know any specific statistic on this one in the DR) is the leading cause of deaths among tourist. Not diseases, not violence. Traffic. Oh, and drowning is pretty common too, as a lot of tourists don't heed local advice on currents and so forth.
Having said that I know of quite a few tourists who rented a car in the DR (rent from a reputable company and make certain that all insurances are paid for) and had a great time. Personally, I would rather go by the long distance buses.
Read more about road safety etc on the ASIRT-webpage/Association for Safe International Road Travel: www.asirt.org.
Best regards,
Susanne 
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