DIRECTOR of the Road Safety Unit (RSU) Deidrie Hudson Sinclair, in her report on daily road crashes, has renewed her appeal for road users to exercise more caution on the roads.

A bus driver and a female passenger were killed when a public transport bus crashed into each other near Salem, St Ann, on Sunday, leaving nearly 20 people who had to be admitted to hospital, while two women died on Wednesday after the bus they were travelling in ran off the road and crashed into a gully in Seaford Town, Westmoreland.

According to the RSU boss, as of Thursday, July 28, 277 people had died in road crashes, islandwide. She urged road users to take road safety seriously, as majority of road crashes are related to bad driving practices.

Statistics from the RSU revealed that of the 487 road fatalities recorded last year, speeding, drivers failing to keep left and pedestrians’ errors were the main causes of fatal crashes. They included 59 motorists who died as result of excessive speeding, with no regards to conditions; while, 27 died from failing to keep to the near side or to the proper traffic lane; and 16 pedestrians died walking or standing in the road.

“Statistics further revealed that males accounted for 89 per cent of that figure. Men, in particular, need to take heed as they account for the majority of fatalities. The majority of drivers involved in fatal crashes are males,” she explained.

“This is not comforting, as families are losing breadwinners, having severe consequences for the stability of homes, communities and the economy. For the remainder of 2022, motorists are reminded to show patience and care when driving, overtaking or passing vehicles. It is imperative to be cautious, drive carefully and follow traffic rules,” she continued.

A summary of the RSU’s latest figures confirmed that 277 people have been killed in 244 fatal crashes since the start of the year. Fatalities compared to the same period last year have decreased by 0.4 per cent and fatal crashes have decreased by one per cent.

At the start of the year, fatalities for 2022 were projected to decrease by 8 per cent. However, the projection, based on the second quarter figures, suggest that there will be no decrease fatal accidents this year to meet the new target of a three per cent decline.

Pedestrians accounted for 21 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year. Private motor vehicle drivers accounted for 23 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year. Private motor vehicle passengers accounted for 14 per cent, and motorcyclists accounted for 26 per cent.

Commercial motor vehicle passengers accounted for one per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year; Commercial motor vehicle drivers accounted for three per cent.

Vulnerable road users (pedestrian, pedal cyclists, motorcyclist and pillion riders) accounted for 54 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year. Passengers accounted for 22 per cent.

Males accounted for 88 per cent and females account for 12 per cent of the fatalities. St Andrew accounted for 12 per cent, while St James and Westmoreland each accounted for 11 per cent.

St Andrew accounted for 12 per cent while St James and Westmoreland each accounted for eleven per cent to the overall road users killed since the start of the year and St Catherine accounted for 16 per cent of the overall road users killed since the start of the year.