Motorcyclists top crash fatalities

Motorcyclists continue to be the leading fatalities in road crashes in Jamaica.

As of March 17, the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Mining reported that motorcyclists account for 30 per cent or 28 peope of the 93 road users who have been killed in crashes. Pedestrians come next with 25 per cent (23 people), while passengers account for 24 per cent (22 people). The number of motorcyclists marks an increase of four per cent when compared with the corresponding period in 2022. Motorcyclist fatalities for 2023 are projected to increase by six per cent when compared to 2022.

Vulnerable road-users, which are pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillions, account for 68 per cent of the road-users killed. Three children have died on the nation's roads, but children fatalities have been reduced by 33 per cent when compared with the corresponding period in 2022. Fourteen elderly people have died as a result of nine fatal traffic crashes as of March 17. But elderly fatalities have decreased by 22 per cent when compared with 2022's corresponding period.

Area 3, which consists of St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon, accounts for 33 per cent of fatalities so far this year, followed by Area 5 (St Andrew North, St Catherine North, St Catherine South and St Thomas) which accounts for 24 per cent.