WITH 35 days left in the year the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the transport ministry has stated that Jamaica is strongly poised to bring fatalities below 300 for the first time in 10 years.

“We should recognise that this is the first time since 1999 that we are positioned to achieve this target,” RSU director, Kenute Hare noted.

At this time in 2009, the island had already reached the 300 figure.

Traffic fatalities since the start of the year is now at 256 from 236 crashes comparing favourably to the 300 killed from 266 crashes over the same period last year.

Hare, while commenting on the overall improved road etiquette, however cautioned that there was no room for complacency and urged Jamaicans to take heed to the various safety messages that are being conveyed by the traffic authorities.

“We are extremely concerned about the fact that there exists a large number of persons who continue to drive recklessly in the traffic environment,” said Hare.

He noted that male drivers between the ages 20 to 39 years were the main offenders and accounted for over 90 per cent of drivers involved in fatal collisions since January.

“We beseech every driver, more specifically male drivers, to desist from engaging in perilous manoeuvers in traffic,” said Hare.

He reiterated his call for drivers to consciously think of achieving a fatality-free week as the year draws to a close.

Interestingly, only one person died in a traffic collision over the past week.