KINGSTON, Jamaica — Males account for a whopping 82 per cent of the 266 crash victims so far this year, according to data released today by the Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport.

The figure, which is just one person short of the 220 men who perished in road fatalities last year, is in contrast to only 47 females being killed in the 219 fatal crashes since January – eight more than last year.

Meanwhile, the Road Safety Unit noted in the release that most of the road users involved in crashes were not wearing seatbelts as people continue to be thrown from motor vehicles as a result of disobeying road laws and refusal to wear seatbelts.

“The seatbelt is a very important piece of protective device which can reduce both the degree of injury and the potential for death.&

“Both motorists and passengers must understand that whenever a collision occurs, the human body will move in the principal direction of the force. Therefore, if the force comes in contact with a vehicle on the right, the unrestrained body will move to the right, thus it is important to always wear a seatbelt,” the unit advised.

While the number of fatal crashes decreased by nine per cent, fatalities have increased by three per cent when compared with a similar period in 2015.

Westmoreland, St Andrew, St Catherine and St Ann continue to be the leading parishes contributing to the high rate of fatalities, accounting for 54 per cent of the overall fatalities.