Citizens’ Perceptions in Relation to Transport Systems and Infrastructures: A Nationwide Study in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

One of the challenges currently faced by emerging countries is to get their citizens to decide to use sustainable transport for their regular trips, in order to reduce the current vehicular pollution rates. The objective of this descriptive research is to examine the perceptions of Dominicans regarding the state of the country’s transport systems and road infrastructure. For this purpose, a nationwide survey procedure was performed. This cross-sectional research used the data retrieved from a sample of 1260 citizens aged over 18, proportional in gender, age, habitat, and province of the Dominican Republic. The results showed how Dominicans believe that, compared to other road features, pedestrian roads and public transport vehicles remain in a very poor condition. Further, citizens report to be more interested about the improvement of road infrastructures than in the implementation of any other set of measures performed to promote sustainable road mobility, including those related with alternative transport means. Finally, this study claims for the need of fostering educational, communicative and participative actions and measures aimed at increasing the value given to sustainable transportation, and the relevance of integrate potential structural and vehicular improvements with those related to human behavior in mobility.

Far from reality, or somehow accurate? Social beliefs and perceptions about traffic crashes in the Dominican Republic

“…It means the highest number in the American continent and one of the highest globally [10]. The transport dynamics, the estate of the vehicles and the conditions of the infrastructures are some of the causes that are influencing these negative trends [6].…”

“…One of them is that due to an increase in the motorization over last few years, policymaking, enforcement, and social awareness tend to get left behind in these countries [5]. Moreover, multiple pieces of evidence illustrate that existing economic limitations in these regions do not allow for maintaining road infrastructures in ideal conditions [6], explaining a highly vulnerable, unstable, and 'volatile' state of affairs in terms of road safety [7,8]. For instance, in 2015, the mortality rate in low and medium-income regions was 34 per 100,000 inhabitants.…”

Ride-hailing services: Competition or complement to public transport to reduce accident rates. The case of Madrid

“…In theory, a larger public transport infrastructure should be associated with a better and more efficient public transport which should affect the overall relative cost of the transport in favor of the mass modes. Recent studies indicate that users' perception of the quality and safety of public transport may influence their choice of transport mode (Alonso et al, 2020(Alonso et al, , 2021. Furthermore, all of the public transport options are theoretically safer alternatives than private vehicles, so the number of accidents could decrease.…”

Validation of the metacognitive skills questionnaire for drivers of vehicles (CHMC)

“…There is absolutely no doubt that traffic accidents are a serious problem for health, and also for the economy. Needless to say, it is a complex phenomenon that results from a series of factors linked to the environment, the vehicle itself and to human beings (Alonso et al, 2021a). The scope of this problem, and the fact that it persists over time, have led to different disciplines being placed in charge of investigating it, and one of the most important is Psychology because it studies the human factor.…”