Yesterday, the Vice Minister of Transportation, Nelson Reyes, announced that 153 intoxicated drivers were arrested through the Easter holiday week, 143% more than in 2023, when 63 people were arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Reyes noted that the growth in arrests is due to the increase in anti-doping controls placed this year.
In the Summer 2024 Plan, authorities quadrupled anti-doping controls, leading to a 17% rise in fines imposed compared to previous years. This year’s Holy Week saw a significant increase in breathalyzer tests, with 7,000 conducted compared to 2,800 the previous year.
Reyes remarked that the objective of the anti-doping controls is not to impose sanctions but to safeguard the lives of Salvadorans.
Salvadoran authorities reported 32 fatalities due to traffic accidents throughout the Easter week holidays. However, all deaths were due to speeding and distracted driving and not caused by intoxicated drivers.
“We are working on a proposal to reform traffic laws so that this helps us change the road culture of our country,” stated the Vice Minister of Transportation, Nelson Reyes. Drunk drivers during the Easter holidays are nothing new; this problem has been around for years.
The authorities affirmed that all those arrested for dangerous driving during Holy Week would be sent to court starting on April 2. The length of administrative detention for drunk driving depends on the time available in the courts and is not necessarily 72 hours.
Reyes also noted that driving while intoxicated can result in two years of community service or prison if the person drives intoxicated again.
“Driving while intoxicated is a crime that can be punished with years in prison,” remarked Deputy Minister Nelson Reyes.
The problem of drunk driving in El Salvador remains a pressing cultural concern, necessitating comprehensive strategies for enforcement, education, and support. Efforts to combat this issue to safeguard lives and promote safer roads for all citizens have been a priority for this administration.
