ROAD DEATH CLOCK

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 2010

167 DEATHS

With just about four months left in the year, traffic fatalities appear on target to achieve the elusive under-300 figure set three years ago by the National Road Safety Council (NRSC).

Last year 341 people died in traffic collisions.

According to data from the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the transport ministry, fatalities to August 5 are at 167 from 155 crashes, compared to 222 from 194 crashes over the same period last year.

Director of the RSU, Kenute Hare told Auto that between August and December last year 129 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions.

Overall traffic fatalities are showing a 25 per cent reduction over last year’s performance while fatal crashes have dropped 20 per cent.

If the downward trend holds, fatalities are projected to peak at 296, just four deaths under the NRSC target.

However a reduction in keeping with the trend over seven months could conceivably see traffic fatalities this year drop closer to 250.

In the meantime Hare said that the expected spike in fatalities over the recent holiday period never materialised.

“Nobody died over the Emancipation weekend,” he declared.

“As we celebrate Independence Day today, let us also ensure that it is another fatality free holiday,’ Hare added.

Hare said that five persons have been killed on holidays since the start of the year with 60 per cent being private motor car drivers. “The remaining 40 per cent were motorcyclists who failed to wear their helmets,” Hare commented.

However in keeping with the trend fatalities have decreased by 28 per cent when compared with the corresponding period in 2009.