KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Director of the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the transport ministry, Kenute Hare, is urging parents and guardians to properly restrain children when transporting them in the rear seat of motor vehicles.

Statistics from the RSU reveals that a total of 25 children were killed in traffic crashes last year. Ten were passengers of private motor vehicles and account for 40 per cent of youngsters killed in the traffic environment.

According to Hare, the children would have survived if they were properly restrained in the vehicles.

 The RSU director cautioned that parents and guardians who do not buckle up children can be charged for endangering a child under the Road Traffic Act, as well as, the Child Care Protection Act.

Hare explained that the law requires that children are transported in a safety or booster seat, on the back seat, until they are at least eight-years-old. However, most children need a booster seat for proper belt-fit until they are at least age 10 to 12, depending on their proportions and the design of the vehicle. It is also recommended that children ride in the back seat, which is 40 per cent safer than the front, he said.

Since January, the country has recorded two child fatalities, where a pedal cyclist and a motorcyclist lost their lives. Both children were not wearing a helmet.

A total of 52 people have been killed since January. The RSU projects fatalities for 2017 to decrease by 15 per cent when compared with 2016.