KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Transport and Mining is reporting that road fatalities now stand at 303.

The minisry said that this has shattered this year’s target.

“The ministry was trying to keep the fatality rate below 300 and despite a 12 per cent decline in fatal crashes, the number of fatalities climbed past 300 at the holiday long-weekend.”

Director of Public Relations and Communication at the ministry, Vando Palmer, said the challenge facing the country is: “What are we going to do about it?

He said “the solution begins with you and me, we must make a choice and that choice begins now”.

Every motorist must make a concerted effort to drive responsibly and obey the road codes especially as we approach the festive season.

According to Palmer, the state of “spirited madness” that has overtaken vehicular operations in the traffic environment, is totally unnecessary, as the impact on the economy and the trauma associated with fatalities and after-care for survivors are debilitating.

He said post-crash care for a surviving motorcyclist can cost taxpayers upwards of $15 million.

The director of communication said the situation can be arrested with a new paradigm and new template to accompany the provisions of the new Road Traffic Bill when it becomes law. This paradigm and template, he said, must be anti-pathetic to the corruption and the disregard for law and order.

Three hundred and eighty two people died on the roads last year.