With 56 days left in the year achieving the below-300 target set by traffic authorities is becoming closer to realisation.

Data from the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the transport ministry shows that 238 people have been killed in 221 fatal crashes up to October 31 this year.

At this same time last year there were 274 fatalities from 239 fatal crashes representing an eight per cent decrease in fatal crashes and 13 per cent drop in fatalities.

A total 347 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2009.

As the days tick away a one-death-per-day rate would peak at 294 fatalities this year.

Even marginally dropping below 300 would be an achievement for National Road Safety Council, which has struggled for almost a decade to reduce the island’s annual death toll that reached as high as 408 in 2002.

Two years ago the NRSC established it’s Under-300 public education campaign but has not been able to achieve the target.

But while the possibilities are high this year to achieve a below 300 goal, authorities are nonetheless cautious about the coming holiday season which have traditionally seen increases in traffic fatalities.

Speaking recently with Auto, RSU director Kenute Hare urged caution on the part of motorists and greater awareness by pedestrians over the coming months.

“Excessive speeding, improper overtaking and improper usage of the roadway by pedestrians will all have to be curtailed,” Hare said adding that pedestrians was the group showing the highest number of traffic fatalities.