During the festive period in the capital, traffic incidents persisted as authorities tracked the patron saint Savior’s celebrations. The Presidency of the country reported that 22 people lost their lives and that the Land Traffic Directorate logged 276 traffic accidents. A total of 180 individuals were injured, and 22 fatalities were recorded without a clear comparison to the same period in 2021. Officials also noted 40 arrests for dangerous driving, a clear signal of impaired driving during the festivities according to the government briefing.
Data from the National Highway Safety Observatory shows that through 2022, the country has logged 10,037 traffic accidents, resulting in 5,931 injuries and 794 deaths. When set against 2021 figures, the year saw an 11.1 percent drop in accidents and a 4.5 percent fall in injuries, while the death toll rose by 2.7 percent. Civil authorities emphasize that the year’s holiday period brought a mix of improved safety metrics alongside ongoing fatality risks, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance on the roads.
Civil Protection director Luis Alonso Amaya pointed to ongoing violations during the festive period, noting continued risk from speeding and alcohol use. The Presidency identified key crash factors as driver distraction, lane occupation, ignoring traffic signals, failing to maintain a safe following distance, excessive speed, and drunk driving. In response, the 2022 Safe Holiday Plan has mobilized about 42 thousand officials from various institutions to monitor and enforce compliance, aiming to curb risky behaviors on the roads during the celebrations.
The celebrations honoring the Divine Savior of the World, the nation’s patron saint, stand as the most significant public observance in the country. Government work slows between August 1 and 6, with the private sector taking additional days off on August 3, 5, and 6 for religious and communal rituals. The festival culminates on the 6th with a Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral, traditionally attended by the country’s high church leadership, marking a solemn close to the city’s major religious season and a moment for communal reflection on road safety and public order during these events.