THE National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is breathing a sigh of relief that road deaths did not increase over the Easter weekend, soothing fears that some people may have resorted to reckless road use during the holidays.

Still, vice-chairman of the NRSC Dr Lucien Jones stressed that while six deaths for the long weekend between Thursday night and Monday was better than the weekend of February 25, when a total of 14 fatalities were recorded, said with more care it could have been a lot better.

Statistics from the National Road Safety Unit showed that up to Tuesday, 107 crashes have killed 119 people since January 1. This is an 11 and nine per cent reduction in fatalities and fatal crashes, respectively, when compared to the similar period in 2022.

Chairman of the NRSC Prime Minister Andrew Holness is scheduled to host a meeting of the council on April 20, where Dr Jones said it is hoped that there will be progress on funding for a public education campaign, discuss electronic enforcement of speed and traffic light infractions, safer roads, collection and sharing of injury data, measures to improve pedestrian safety, further enhancement of the breathalyser programme, additional funding for the training programme for motorcyclists, dedicated funding for the secretariat of the council, and feedback from the public about the new Road Traffic Act (RTA).

Minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green, who has oversight responsibility for the NRSC, said significant work is being done now to ensure that the various elements of the new RTA are rolled out, such as the electronic signature legislation, which was passed by Parliament during the past two weeks. He told the Jamaica Observer that the hope is that after a year of consistent implementation, the changes in road use and effect of the updated law will become evident.

“Without a doubt, people appreciate that the Government is trying to curb careless and reckless driving, and because of the police ramping up enforcement early at start of implementation, a lot of people were definitely more aware of some of the provisions that were around for a very long time. We have to continue consistent enforcement if we are going to get behavioural change,” Green said, adding that the approach to give persons an avenue to raise their concerns with the new law was critical.

He noted that the multi-stakeholder committee, which Holness commissioned in February when the law was enacted to examine concerns emanating from the roll-out of the RTA, had reached out to groups including various taxi associations, and will be making another public appeal for persons to submit their suggestions and concerns.

He said already some matters have been raised such as the new extensive requirements for persons 70 years and older to acquire their drivers’ licence. The committee comprises representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the NRSC, the police, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, and transport operator group TODSS. Another meeting is set for early May.

At the same time, despite statistics showing a drop in crashes and deaths so far this year, at the current rate fatalities for 2023 are projected to increase by 0.4 per cent cent over 2022, which closed out with 488 road deaths. Vulnerable groups — pedestrian, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists, and pillion riders — so far account for 63 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

Pedestrians account for 23 of 119 road deaths since January, 10 per cent more than the number of private motor vehicle drivers killed. Motorcyclists account for 29 per cent — the highest percentage of all categories — and private motor vehicle passengers, seven per cent.

Meanwhile, six per cent of those who have died on the nation’s roads are commercial motor vehicle passengers and seven per cent are pedal cyclists. Public passenger vehicle (PPV) drivers account for two per cent, while pillion passengers make up four per cent of the road users killed. Passengers travelling in PPVs account for eight per cent of the 119 deaths.