Election build-up brings road safety concerns

Eighty-five people have died in motor vehicle crashes during the two-week period before the last five general elections, official data have revealed.

A total of 81 road deaths were recorded during the comparative two-week periods for the year preceding the last five national polls, the data from the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) showed. Jamaica has entered the official campaign period for the September 3 general election and there are concerns that supporters of the two main political parties who are criss-crossing the country in motorcades continue to flout the rules of the roads.

The last five general elections were held in October 2002, September 2007, December 2011, February 2016 and September 2020. A total of 28 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the 13-day period leading up to the September 3, 2020 general election, the highest for the last five election campaigns, according to the ITA data. The second highest number of road deaths during an election campaign period was the 18 recorded in the 13 days prior to the February 25, 2016 poll. There were 16 road deaths in the lead-up to the October 2002 election; 15 in the run-up to the December 2011 election; and eight prior to the September 2007 election, the ITA data revealed.

A breakdown of the data showed that 21 of the total number of people killed were pedestrians, followed by 20 private motor car passengers, 18 motorcyclists, 17 private motor car drivers and three pillion passengers. Citing the data, Dr Lucien Jones, vice-chairman of the National Road Safety Council (NRSC), has written to the Office of the Political Ombudsman making an urgent appeal for road safety measures during the current campaign.

"As we begin an active election season, I feel compelled to highlight the urgent need for greater accountability and coordination to ensure that campaign activities do not compromise public safety on our roads," Jones said, in an excerpt from the letter that was shared publicly.

A total of 241 people have died on Jamaica's roadways between January 1 and August 14 this year, a one per cent increase over the comparative period last year, according to the ITA data.