KINGSTON, Jamaica – The People’s National Party (PNP) spokesperson on transportation Mikael Phillips is expressing alarm at the growing number of road fatalities in the island so far this year.

Phillips, in a news release from the PNP, said that “too many of our fellow Jamaicans are losing their lives in what are seemingly avoidable road traffic accidents and this weekend’s fatalities have taken the number of deaths so far this year to 120, averaging over one per day and possibly trending ahead of the previous year”.

He asserted that an “excessive” number of motorcyclists are seen riding without helmets and in some instances, with pillion riders whom they are not licensed to carry.

Phillips said too that motorcyclist have featured “highly” in a number of road accidents and fatalities that have “unfortunately taken place amid the meaningless mad rush and irrational decision-making”.

The Opposition spokesperson is calling on the Government to immediately prioritise the re-tabling of the Road Traffic Act Bill, which was previously passed by the House of Representatives, so that it can move forward to the Senate.

Speaking to what he has observed as an apparently “high level of unruliness” on the roads, he said: “We now have a world-class highway system and a much improved road network, so I am imploring our road users to avoid the temptation to speed on these roads, by planning ahead, so that everyone can get to their destination on time and with ease.”

He appealed to road users to exercise “a lot more caution and obey the rules of the road, as the life we save may be ours”.