The initiative proposed by deputy Jorge Leonardo Tavárez seeks to increase the safety of motorcyclists
Santo Domingo.- The Mobility and Transport Commission of the Chamber of Deputies will study the bill that incentivizes the access and use of approved protective helmets for drivers and passengers of motorcycles and vehicles without a cabin “Safe Helmet RD”, proposed by the deputy of La Altagracia province, Jorge Tavárez.
The “Safe Helmet RD” Bill, sent to the study commission last Wednesday, June 3rd, has the main objective of strengthening road safety and reducing injuries and deaths from traffic accidents in the Dominican Republic by promoting the use of appropriate protective equipment.
The initiative proposes exempting the payment of the Tax on the Transfer of Industrialized Goods and Services (ITBIS) and import duties for homologated helmets. This measure will have an initial validity of 10 years, with the possibility of extending it for up to 5 more years if at least 70% of motorcycle users are not using these helmets by the end of the period.
Furthermore, the project establishes in its article 6 facilitating the acquisition of quality helmets at affordable prices, prioritizing workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers and delivery personnel. Additionally, the Executive Branch may grant partial subsidies during the first 18 months following the law, aimed especially at lower-income sectors.
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The Dominican State may grant tax incentives and administrative facilities to encourage the installation of companies dedicated to the production or assembly of approved helmets in the national territory.
Article 14 establishes that the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT) must develop national awareness campaigns regarding the use of helmets. Likewise, the first Sunday of August is declared as the “National Safe Motorcyclist Day” to promote responsible driving and road safety.
The legislative proposal arises at a time when there is already a regulatory framework regarding the use of protective helmets for motorcyclists. Technical Standard 001-2025, published on October 20, 2025, establishes the approved standards that helmets used by motorcycle drivers and passengers must meet, with the aim of guaranteeing protective equipment capable of saving lives.
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Although the provision was supposed to take effect 180 days after its publication, more than 200 days have passed without it being fully applied. However, the director of the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (Intrant), Milton Morrison, has indicated that its implementation will be gradual, prioritizing citizen orientation and education sessions before stepping up enforcement.
Intrant allows the import of homologated helmets from 10 countries
It is worth remembering that motorcycles constitute one of the main road safety challenges in the Dominican Republic, due to their high participation in traffic accidents and in the figures of deaths and injuries on the roads.
In that sense, the director of Intrant, Milton Morrison, recently reported that helmets approved and certified under the standards of at least ten countries may be marketed and purchased in the country. Likewise, he reiterated that the use of this protective equipment will be mandatory once the corresponding regulations come into effect.
The cases will arrive in the countries China, Vietnam, Colombia, India, Japan, Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United States, which will allow for increased competition and lower prices in the local market.
