Director of the Transport ministry’s Road Safety Unit (RSU), Kenute Hare, is urging motorists to exercise caution on the roads in what he called the “drinking season”.

According to Hare with the holiday period and its explosion of parties patrons are tempted to overindulge in alcohol.

“If you have to drink be sure there is a designated driver,” Hare advised.

He added that police in the western parishes are also being urged to make full use of breathalysers, as the parties especially in the Montego Bay and Negril areas, heat up. “We are now in the drinking season, said Hare.

Traditionally fatal accidents increase during the holiday periods in August and the Christmas/New Year celebrations.

Traffic fatalities are below last year’s performance with 163 deaths since January from 152 fatal crashes. This compares to 212 deaths at the same time last year from 185 fatal crashes.

But even with the improved figures the RSU is reminding motorists that fatalities are still too high.

“We have to strive to get the figure way below 300,” Hare said.