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A rental car for tourism crashed into a power pole in Santa Clara on Monday night and ended up crashing into a house, with no injuries reported from the accident.
The events took place in front of the Rivierita hotel in the city of Villa Clara, located outside the ring road, very close to the Central Highway, on the way from Santa Clara to Santo Domingo.
"In Santa Clara, in front of the Riviera hotel," indicated a user in the Facebook group 'Automobile Accidents in Cuba', sharing an image of the incident.
The vehicle, a Hyundai imported by the Ministry of Tourism, with license plate T028739, completely tore down a wooden utility pole and ended up crashing into the fence and entrance of a house.
At the time of writing this note, the condition of the vehicle's occupants or the causes of the accident are unknown. Neither the authorities nor local state media are reporting on what happened.
Traffic accidents in Cuba involving passenger cars have raised increasing concern in recent months. These incidents highlight not only the inherent risks associated with road conditions and the coexistence of different types of transportation but also the weaknesses in supervising the technical conditions of vehicles.
In December 2024, an accident on the Central Highway in Camagüey involved a tourist car that collided with a horse-drawn carriage. This incident left three people injured, according to reports. The combination of modern vehicles with more rudimentary forms of transportation on poorly marked and poorly lit roads increases the likelihood of such accidents, especially in rural areas.
Another significant case occurred in February 2024 in Sancti Spíritus, when a tourist vehicle fell from a bridge, resulting in three fatalities. This tragic event highlighted not only the deterioration of road infrastructure but also the lack of adequate safety measures to prevent accidents in hazardous areas.
In July, a motorcyclist lost his life after colliding with a passenger car in Santiago de Cuba. According to reports, the poor condition of the road where the accident occurred contributed to the tragic outcome, a recurring problem on the island's highways.
On the other hand, in Las Tunas, a recent accident involving a tourist taxi and another vehicle resulted in several injuries, once again highlighting the involvement of this type of vehicle in numerous traffic incidents.
Common factors in accidents
Tourist cars, usually imported for the tourism sector and in better condition than most vehicles on the road in Cuba, are not exempt from accidents. Common factors contributing to the high accident rate on the island include:
1. Poor infrastructure: Most roads are in bad condition, with inadequate or absent signage, especially in rural areas and on sections of the Carretera Central. 2. Coexistence of different types of transportation: Modern cars share the roads with bicycles, motorcycles, horse-drawn carts, and old trucks, creating high-risk situations. 3. Lack of regular technical inspections: Although passenger cars tend to be in better technical condition, they do not always receive proper maintenance due to a lack of resources. 4. Limited lighting on roads: This poses a significant danger, especially in nighttime accidents like the one that occurred in Santa Clara.
Expert recommendations
Road safety experts have emphasized the urgent need to improve infrastructure and road signage in Cuba, as well as to implement more effective road education programs and ensure regular technical inspections for all vehicles, including those used for tourism. Without these measures, traffic accidents will continue to be one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in the country.
The accident this Monday in Santa Clara is yet another reminder of the risks on Cuban roads. The lack of official transparency and the absence of detailed investigations into the causes of these accidents worsen the perception of insecurity among citizens and visitors.
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