It is no secret that traffic insecurity has become a very serious problem in Aruba. Last Friday there was a question hour with the Minister of Justice, Arthur Dowers, specifically on this issue. Unfortunately, this type of parliamentary session does not provide enough space for deep discussion or for relevant questions that could truly help the country. That is why, during a press conference on Monday morning, the PPA faction expressed its concerns and announced that in the coming days it will submit a formal and detailed set of questions to the minister, hoping that the answers will be clearer, more convincing, and that the government will finally take concrete action.
Hypocrisy, lack of data, and real risk on the roads
The PPA faction considers Minister Dowers’ remark that Aruba is now importing “a lot of cheap vehicles”to be regrettable and hypocritical.
“It is important to remember that when Minister Dowers himself previously served as Minister of Justice, he had full authority to stop the importation of right-hand-drive vehicles. These are precisely the types of vehicles now entering Aruba at very low prices, making them more accessible and increasing their presence on the roads. This is not new; it has been happening for more than 8 to 10 years,” Pieters stated.
“If the minister did not take action when he had the power to do so, how can he now claim that the problem is someone else’s responsibility? Now that he is minister again, he has another opportunity to correct the situation. If he is serious, he should stop this importation and prohibit this type of vehicle from using our roads as a concrete measure to safeguard traffic safety.”
The PPA faction is therefore demanding concrete and reliable data and is asking sharp questions such as:
- How many right-hand-drive vehicles are currently on Aruba’s roads?
- How many accidents fatal, minor, and moderate occur each year involving this type of vehicle?
Additional accident risk
According to Pieters, Aruba’s road system is designed for left-hand-drive vehicles. Right-hand-drive cars introduce additional risk: visibility is limited when turning, the driver’s position is opposite to what the road layout requires, and the headlights are designed for a different traffic system, blinding oncoming drivers. Several experts have confirmed that this is a critical factor in accident risk.
The PPA is also demanding clarity regarding accident registration. As far back as 2005, a report by the SER already pointed out a lack of reliable data. The same questions about data reliability, quality of analysis, and decision-making foundations are still relevant today. ForenSys has been registering accidents since 2016, but the key question is: is the government actually using this information strategically to improve traffic safety?
The time for action is now
The PPA faction is calling for a serious and structural approach.
“The Police Commissioner has announced that there will be more police presence on the roads. That is a good step, but it is not enough. Speed detection must be modernized. Many accidents have excessive speed as a main factor. Considering today’s technology, the shortage of police officers, and Aruba’s budget constraints, we must implement electronic detection systems that automatically issue fines by email or mail, just as is done internationally and just like tax assessments sent to households.”
“The question is simple: what is Minister Dowers going to do now? Aruba cannot continue to accept unsafe traffic as normal. Human life is more important than politics. The time for real action is now,” Eduard Pieters concluded.