EXPECTATIONS that traffic fatalities in 2010 would end up below 300 were dashed this week with 302 deaths reported by the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Transport Ministry.

Concerns that traffic fatalities would increase drastically as the holiday season approached were realised as 26 people were killed over a three-week period leading to Christmas.

“In one weekend from the 17th of December to the 19th, eight people died in traffic crashes,” RSU analyst Deidrie Sinclair said yesterday, adding that the fatalites were from all categories of road users.

At the end of November the death toll stood at 260, giving a glimmer of hope that the target would be achieved.

Traffic administrators feel particularly deflated as this would have been the first time in ten years that the road death figure would have dipped below the 300 mark.

In the meantime, pedestrians have seen a 28 per cent increase in fatalities over last year with 113 killed in crashes so far this year. “That hit us the most, without that we would have definitely made it under 300,” Sinclair commented.

However, while the administration’s Under-300 target has been missed, the death toll is nonetheless below that of the same period last year.

According to the RSU, since January 302 people have been killed in 279 fatal crashes compared to 338 from 293 fatal crashes over the same period in 2009.

347 people were killed in traffic crashes in 2009.

“Our current projection for the end of this year is 315 deaths,”said Sinclair.

Imploring motorists to exercise caution on the roads, Sinclair urged drivers to observe the speed limits and refrain from using cellphones while driving.

“Of particular concern, however, are people drinking and driving,” said Sinclair. “Even if you are riding a bicycle drinking is dangerous,” she added.