Of the total 286 people killed in traffic crashes since January, 110 were pedestrians, almost 40 per cent of the island’s traffic fatalities.

According to the transport ministry’s Road Safety Unit (RSU), which track motor vehicle accident statistics, pedestrian fatalities have increased by 43 per cent when compared to the same period last year.

The RSU said that a quarter of the pedestrian fatalities occurred in the 6:00pm to 8:00pm time frame while 15 per cent were killed in the morning hours between 8:00am and 10:00am.

In the meantime, traffic fatalities have taken another quantum leap with ten people killed over the past week. In the previous week seven people were killed prompting transport minister Mike Henry to appeal for caution on the roads during the holiday season.

Traffic administrators fear that their Below 300 target will again be missed as a spike in crashes threaten to push fatalities above 300.

With 15 days left 2010 the RSU has now projected 309 traffic deaths this year.

Since January 286 people have been killed from 263 fatal crashes compared to 324 deaths from 283 fatal crashes over the corresponding period last year.