KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Road Safety Unit of the Ministry of Transport and Mining is reporting that vulnerable road users, which comprise pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders, account for 63 per cent of road fatalities since the start of the year.

As such, the unit is appealing to all road users to wear relevant protective gears, such as seatbelts, helmets, and to pay close attention to road signs and markings.

Director of the Road Safety Unit, Kenute Hare, said  majority of our road crashes are related to bad driving practices.

The latest statistics from the unit reveal that 161 persons have been killed from a total of 147 fatal crashes so far this year.

Of that group, 37 were pedestrians, 11 pedal cyclists, 50 were motorcyclists and four pillion riders. Three passengers in public passenger vehicles (PPVs), 24 passengers of private motor vehicle, four commercial motor car passengers, one PPV driver, 25 drivers of private motor vehicles, and two commercial motor car drivers also died in crashes.

Hare is encouraging drivers/motorists who transport passengers, to ensure that they do so safely by enforcing the wearing of seatbelts.

Pedestrians and pedal cyclists are also advised to wear bright coloured clothing at nights, and use reflective gears to ensure they can be seen at all times.

Pedal cyclists are also urged to wear clothing that will make them more visible to other road users, especially in the nights.