Road fatalities continue upward trend, motorcyclists still among most killed
KINGSTON, Jamaica – TWO hundred and nineteen people have died in road crashes since the start of the year.According to statistics from the National Road Safety Council, there has been a spike in the number of road fatalities from January 1 to August 11, when compared to the same period in 2013 and 2014.
Road fatalities have gradually increased from 180 in 2013, to 200 deaths on the road in 2014.
The 2014 figure for the period has risen by 19 for 2015.
The statistics, which were compiled from information provided by the Police Traffic Headquarters, also indicate that motorcyclists and pillion passengers have accounted for 72 deaths, with occupants of private motor cars trailing closely with 66 recorded fatalities for the period.
Fifty pedestrians have been road crash victims, while deaths of occupants travelling in public passenger vehicles now stand at 14. Among the 219 recorded road fatalities were also 11 pedal cyclists.
Also, 12 children have died on the Jamaican roads to date.
The National Road Safety Council’s report comes after Prime Ministers Portia Simpson Miller, earlier this year, urged road users to “protect lives and engage in safer road use practices to better protect the lives of vulnerable users, particularly children”.
