KINGSTON, Jamaica— At 298 victims as of Friday, August 12, the number of people who have perished in motor vehicle crashes on the nation’s roads is now set to breach the 300-mark eight months into the year.

The 298 victims from 261 fatal crashes since January 1 include the 12 who were killed during the one-week period from Independence Day, August 6 to August 12.

The statistics are the latest provided by the Transport Ministry’s Road Safety Unit (RSU).

The latest victims include a two-year-old female and an 87-year-old male. Three were passengers in private motor cars, two were pedestrians and four were motorcyclists. There were also one pedal cyclist, one private motor car driver and one driver of a public passenger vehicle.

Despite being on the brink of 300 fatalities, the 298 people killed in road crashes up to last Friday represent a one per cent decrease in deaths and a three per cent drop in fatal crashes, the RSU said.

So far pedestrians account for 20 per cent of all fatalities this year. Motorcyclists account for 27 per cent, drivers of private motor vehicles account for 22 per cent, and private motor vehicle passengers account for 14 per cent.

The group classified as being among the most vulnerable road users and which is made up of pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders, account for 54 per cent of all road fatalities combined.

As in previous years, males continue to make up the majority of road traffic victims with 85 per cent of those killed this year being male.