THE Road Safety Unit yesterday expressed concern about the spike in pedestrian fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.

The unit, in a release yesterday, said 11 of the 28 road users killed this year are pedestrians. “This translates to 39 per cent of the persons who have died from traffic-related fatalities,” the unit said yesterday.

Director of the Road Safety Unit Kenute Hare said pedestrian fatalities are yet another reminder that pedestrians have as important a responsibility as drivers of motor vehicles in ensuring their safety on the roads.

At the same time, he said that the decrease in motorcyclist fatalities is good news.

The Road Safety Unit said 10 motorcyclists have been killed so far this year, which is 36 per cent of the deaths on the roads in 2017, but is a 50 per cent drop when compared to the same period in 2016.

“The Ministry (of Transport and Mining) continues to play an integral role in educating the public of the dangers in the road environment and how to keep themselves safe. We need the full cooperation of all Jamaicans, drivers, passengers and pedestrians in reducing the needless deaths caused by road crashes,” Hare said.

The unit said it will be making a special appeal to families, in particular males, to practise proper road safety etiquette by obeying the rules governing the road at all times. “The majority of drivers involved in fatal crashes are males. This is not comforting, as families are losing breadwinners, this can have severe consequences for the stability of homes and communities.

“Since January, a total of 24 males have been killed due to traffic collisions. This number is too high,” Hare bemoaned.