KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Ministry of Transport and Mining says 19 people have lost their lives on Jamaica’s roads since the start of the year.

In a news release, the RSU said that the “worrying trend” of road traffic deaths continues to be a negative aspect of the nation’s landscape.

Statistics from the RSU reveal that excessive speeding; drivers failing to keep left and pedestrian error, were the main causes of fatal crashes.

Of the 19 people who have died, 16 were males. A further breakdown of the figures shows that 10 were pedestrians; seven motorcyclists; one was a private motor vehicle driver, while the other was a commercial motor vehicle driver. The parishes of Clarendon, Hanover and St Andrew account for 47 per cent of road fatalities thus far, the RSU said.

Director of the RSU, Kenute Hare, is urging road users to take road safety more seriously. Noting that the majority of road crashes are related to bad driving practices, Hare emphasised that the data is showing one death per day.

 “Road fatalities are not just statistics, these deaths cause a great deal of suffering for the people who have lost a loved one or who are left with a permanent injury. The wanton disregard for the rules is crippling the country,” Hare said.

The RSU director noted that the unit will be intensifying its road safety education programme in schools and communities with a view to promoting proper road etiquette. “The RSU is also reiterating the call for motorists to look out for cyclists and pedestrians who may be obscured by other vehicles while they are on the roads,” Hare added.