Overview

For information on Haiti Road network contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Haiti Government Contact Lists

Ground transport is the main internal mode of transportation for passengers and goods as well as for trade with the Dominican Republic. The data on the Haitian road network is little reliable. It is structured around a network of a rough length of 3,875 km, with a classification that is based on the notions of primary roads, secondary roads and municipal roads:

The national network (primary), which covers around 956 km, connects the cities of the country in which the socioeconomic or political importance takes on a priority character. The traffics, widely dependent on conditions of the road, are there very variable and can reach 1,000 to 4,000 vih./day for the most taken roads.

The departmental network (secondary) with a length of about 1,615 km, connects the urban areas of lesser importance with the national network. The traffics vary generally between 200 and 1,000 vehicles/day when roads are passable.

The municipal network (tertiary), covers approximately 1,343 km and assures the function of sideboard of the territory of the municipalities. The traffics are generally very low.

More than 700 km of roads have been constructed and renovated since 2011. Significant emphasis has been made on strengthening the road maintenance capacity of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, Energy, and Communications. The structuralization radial road of the main network (RN1, RN2 and RN3) converging in the capital Port-au-Prince and centers all activities in the country. One of Haiti’s main integration corridors is the Route Nationale 1 (RN1), extending from the country’s capital Port-au-Prince to the second largest city, Cap-Haitien, in the North. The corridor plays a very important role in international trade facilitation and regional integration as it connects the two most important seaports and airport with the major cities and productive regions of the country.  

Distance Matrix

Road Safety and Security

Road accidents are common due to those reasons: 

• Poor conditions of vehicles, overloading, as well as bad driving. Cars may not have working headlights or other safety features. Drivers use any open space on the road, regardless of right-side driving law. They may engage in dangerous maneuvers to avoid potholes, they may pass, switch lanes, merge or make turns without signaling or checking for oncoming traffic.
• The road network is not equipped with safety measures such as vertical and horizontal signs, lights and/or guardrails. Many roads lack lane division indicators. Stop signs and traffic lights are frequently disregarded. Be alert for obstacles on the road, including wrecked or broken down vehicles
• The poor road condition and maintenance. The majority of rural and mountain roads are unpaved. Road surfaces include gravel and clay.
• Sidewalk vendors blocking pedestrians who then walk in traffic contribute to unsafe road conditions. Road hazards include carts drawn by animals, loose animals and people in roadways. There is little or no infrastructure for pedestrians, who often walk in roadways. In Haiti, there is no strict traffic law reinforcement for Motorcyclists. some motorcycles drive against traffic rules and disregarding all traffic regulation.

Security

In the time of the updating this document, the gang activities in the town of Martissant have paralyzed traffic on the National Route No. 2 for almost a year. This access constraint impeded the transport of goods to the South, including within the framework of the humanitarian response to the earthquake of August 14, 2021. Traders in the Great South, unable to transport their goods safely to and from Port-au-Prince.

Traffic Regulations

• Drivers are required to carry their national driving license and International Driving Permit.
• While driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal, it is nevertheless common; particularly at night.
• Speed limits are rarely posted; few speed limit signs exist.
• Stopping at intersections before proceeding is strongly recommended.
• Rental cars may not be driven over the border into the Dominican Republic

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

The national regulatory body is the MTPTC, however there are no weighbridge facilities, and axle load is not being checked.

For information on Haiti Road network contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Haiti Government Contact Lists