Cuban drivers used social media to express their complaints about the power outages that leave traffic lights in the dark, leading to chaotic situations that sometimes result in traffic accidents that can be fatal.
Immersed in an energy crisis of infernal proportions, the Cuban population sees most of its routines affected. Power outages not only impact life inside homes, but also transportation and the safety of Cubans when moving around.
Facebook groups dedicated to accidents, social media posts, and comments are evidence of a growing sense of insecurity among Cuban drivers and pedestrians who see the disappearance of the luminous signs in the urban landscape of their towns and cities.
"Very dangerous, ladies and gentlemen. Drivers, pay attention here: The intersection of 100 and 51 is without power. Traffic lights off, and the best part of it all is that there is no police around," warned a Cuban in the Buses & Trucks Accidents group.
His complaint highlighted the lack of electricity for the proper functioning of the traffic light, but also the indifference of the authorities who do not anticipate the deployment of police units from the Specialized Department of Traffic of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).
Two other publications in the same group showed two accidents that occurred on the same corner in the Cuban capital, both caused by the traffic chaos brought about by power outages at the dangerous intersection of 31st Avenue and 42nd Street.
In one of them, there was a collision between an "almendrón" (American-made car from the 50s) and a Lada from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). In the other, the accident involved a motorcycle and a bus, and according to comments on the publication, it was serious for the motorcyclist.
There are a lot of traffic lights turned off and no police officers. I think that if they have the schedule for the blackouts, they should put police officers at all the dangerous intersections," a user commented on one of the posts.
"It's terrible about the traffic lights without power. There are quite a few accidents," said another. "I passed by that traffic light during one of the many blackouts in that area and the little horse was under the bush on 31st and 42nd... Taking shade! The traffic light was off, the cars on their own, and he was taking shade! The sun was too much and he couldn't get a sunstroke like that!" another recounted with irony.
It's becoming a common occurrence. Yesterday, the traffic light at 31st and 41st in La Ceguera was out. While drivers juggled to cross without scratches, there was a colleague from the motorized unit hunting down pirate taxi drivers. If power outage schedules are already known, at least assign the necessary traffic officers to prevent accidents," said an internet user.
"It's incredible. The law says that if you ride without a helmet, you can get a 12-point fine (supposedly to take care of you). And the potholes and the traffic lights without lights, who are they taking care of?" asked another.
Precisely, in recent days, a video shared on social media caused a stir of the car accident that occurred at the corner of G Avenue and 17th Street in Vedado, Havana, where the traffic light was not working due to a power outage.
Images captured by a security camera in the area showed the collision of the two vehicles traveling at high speed without respecting the right of way. The strong impact caused head injuries to one of the drivers involved, but it also came close to having serious consequences for several pedestrians present at the mentioned corner.
At the beginning of April, Colonel Roberto Rodríguez Fernández, head of the Specialized Traffic Department of the National Revolutionary Police, indicated that motorized units were stationed at critical points in the city to contribute to the flow and safety of road traffic following the closure of the Bay Tunnel for maintenance work.
The forecast made in that case serves as a reference for the demands of Cuban drivers related to blackouts and the darkness of traffic lights. At the very least, it is about anticipating them and reinforcing traffic safety with specialized agents during blackouts.
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