Distribuido por Cuba Free Press, Inc. - http://www.cubafreepress.org Dec. 1, 1999.

ALCOHOL, SPEED, RECKLESSNESS KILL 892 IN 10 MONTHS VILLA CLARA - Traffic accidents continue to be one of the main causes of death in Cuba. Published data indicate that 6,631 traffic accidents resulted in 892 deaths in the first 10 months of 1999.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages, speeding, and recklessness are the most often cited reasons for the total. Even as a small decrease was reported since 1996 and 1999 marked the lowest total in the past four years, this is nevertheless a catastrophe.

Havana, Pinar del Rio, Holguin, and Santiago are among the worst cities for accidents. The poor condition of the roads, the high speeds and violations incurred by cyclists and pedestrians have also contributed to the large number of accidents along with what is called a general "social lack of discipline."

Luis Ramón Hernández Rodríguez, Cuba Free Press.