The vehicle controls accompanied by the anti-doping test on the different roads, from January 1 to February 4, 2023, have made it possible to identify and capture 26 more dangerous drivers than the same period in 2022, according to the National Observatory for Road Safety (ONASEVI). ).
In the first 35 days of this year, 145 drivers have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; in 2022 there were 119, that is, it has increased 21.8%, with an average of four detainees per day.
This achievement is due to the road safety strategy that is implemented through the Vice Ministry of Transportation (VMT), the Traffic Directorate of the National Civil Police (PNC), the National Road Safety Council (CONASEVI) and other entities.
Article 147-E of the Penal Code stipulates the crime of dangerous driving. It is established that anyone who, through dangerous driving of a motor vehicle, violates road safety regulations, endangering the life or physical integrity of people, will be punished with a prison sentence of 3 to 6 years. Apart from facing criminal proceedings against him, the driver is imposed a fine of $57.14, considered very serious, which will increase to $150 with the amendment to the Land Transportation, Traffic and Road Safety Law, which was endorsed by the Legislature.
Controls in various parts of the country have increased this year, and, according to the Vice Minister of Transportation, Nelson Reyes, with the new reform to the traffic law, these will intensify, since the number of traffic managers will increase to 600.
The rigorous road safety measures implemented by these institutions made it possible to reduce road accidents by 7.1% in 2022 and, so far in 2023, a decrease in the rates of injuries and deaths in the country has been maintained.
A factor that affects the increase in the detection of irresponsible drivers is citizen complaints. For example, on Sunday morning, a taxi driver who was denounced on social networks driving dangerously on the highway to Los Planes de Renderos, in San Salvador, was immediately captured, after performing the breathalyzer test resulted in 174 degrees of breath alcohol.
