SINCE the start of 2016, there have been 11 road fatalities, of which eight were motorcyclists – the demographic with the highest road crash increase for 2015.

For another year, the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is pleading with drivers, riders, pedestrians and other road users to be responsible for their safety and the safety of others.

Based on statistics shared by NRSC, 378 individuals lost their lives due to being involved in road crashes on our roads. These individuals lost their lives after being involved in 354 road crashes. In 2014, there were 331 individuals who lost their lives due to road crashes involving 300 fatal crashes.

One hundred and eleven individuals who were travelling on motorcycles lost their lives in 2015, while 65 individuals lost their lives in 2014 while travelling on motorbikes involved in road crashes.

In late 2015, Paula Fletcher, executive director of NRSC said: “This is cause for great concern! This concern is compounded by the fact that most of these motorcycle drivers are from the western section of the island, where motorcycle taxis predominate as an accepted form of transportation by the community. Community members have been known to stone policemen who pursue these motorcycle taxi operators, who are operating in contravention of the law.”

Fletcher is calling on all persons to assist the Council in its fight to reduce road crashes.

“We need to return to a downward trend in fatalities. Our aim in Jamaica should be to go ‘Below 240’ fatalities as outlined under the national Below 240 Programme for 2013 – 2016. We Jamaicans all have a major role in reducing road crashes, especially in the western section of the island,” Fletcher said.