In spite of drunkenness controls, intelligent traffic lights and police deployment to prevent accidents, 2023 records an increase of 6,2% in terms of road accidents, especially due to driver distraction as the main cause.

Although fatalities decreased by five percent compared to the same period in 2022, injuries increased by up to six percent.

Authorities highlight distracted driving as the most important issue, which caused 3,511 accidents and 351 deaths.

By department, San Salvador is the one that reports more accidents, as well as injuries and deaths, followed by La Libertad, Santa Ana, San Miguel and Sonsonate.

The high accident rate is also due to the high number of vehicles, close to 1.7 million, in a territory of only 21 thousand square kilometers.

A study by the Francisco Gavidia University detailed that there is a flow of 2,620 vehicles per hour in 100 meters monitored at some points in the country’s capital.

Researcher Oscar Picardo, director of the Center for Technology and Innovation of this educational center explained that for several years, Salvadorans have had a stressful situation due to the high traffic congestion.

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