Villa Clara concluded October 2025 with a distressing report on traffic incidents: 511 accidents documented, 48 fatalities, and 629 injuries, according to official statistics indicating a rise from the previous year.
Lieutenant Colonel Heriberto López Pérez de Prado, head of the Provincial Traffic Unit, shared these figures with the Cuban News Agency (ACN), stating that the numbers exceeded those from the same period in 2024 by 50 additional accidents.
The main contributors to these accidents include driver distractions, failure to yield the right of way, pedestrian violations, and irresponsible alcohol consumption, according to the official.
Additionally, nine particularly dangerous road sections have been identified, accounting for over a hundred incidents, nearly ten deaths, and around 200 injuries.
Motorcycles are prominently involved in these statistics, featuring in nearly half of all accidents.
In response, authorities have issued over 40,000 fines, penalized 717 repeat offenders, and permanently revoked 53 driver's licenses.
During the recent national traffic campaign, themed "Yield to the Road," educational and preventative measures were promoted, alongside recognizing drivers with exemplary records, López Pérez reported.
Nevertheless, other factors exacerbate road safety issues. Juan Carlos Riol, the province's transportation delegate, acknowledged the impact of drivers over 65 years old without medical checks, unqualified drivers, and stray animals on roads, all increasing accident risks.
Professional driver Marcos Banguela Villaureta from Santa Clara commented that poor road conditions, combined with reckless motorcyclists riding without helmets and at high speeds, contribute to the rising number of accidents.
Facing this situation, Pedro Julio González León, provincial director of Roadways, announced that roadwork will commence later this month in Santo Domingo municipality, prioritizing access to Santa Clara, the National Highway, and tourist and mountainous routes, once resources are secured.
Meanwhile, José Antonio Valeriano Fariñas, director of the Construction and Engineering Company in Villa Clara, confirmed that the company has two asphalt plants capable of producing more than 40,000 tons of mixture to meet the provincial demand and support central regions of the country.
Despite local efforts in maintenance and prevention campaigns, the data reflect a continuous decline in road safety in Villa Clara, where roadways claim numerous lives annually, highlighting the lack of infrastructure and oversight amid a national crisis, ACN emphasized.
This past Sunday, three individuals sustained injuries, one critically, following an accident on the La Arenera stretch, between La Campana and Hanabanilla in the Manicaragua municipality of Villa Clara.
Villa Clara Traffic Safety Concerns
What are the main causes of traffic accidents in Villa Clara?
The primary causes include driver distractions, failure to yield the right of way, pedestrian violations, and irresponsible alcohol consumption.
How have the authorities responded to the increase in accidents?
Authorities have issued over 40,000 fines, sanctioned 717 repeat offenders, and permanently revoked 53 driver's licenses.
What measures are being taken to improve road conditions in Villa Clara?
Roadwork is set to begin in Santo Domingo municipality, focusing on improving access to Santa Clara, the National Highway, and tourist routes, with two asphalt plants producing over 40,000 tons for provincial and central needs.