The National Road Safety Council (NRSC) is calling on Jamaicans to exercise added caution on the nation’s roads heading into the Christmas season.

“We are getting up to the time of the year when everyone is looking forward to celebrating and ending the year on a high note, but sadly, this is also a time when we see an uptick in more Jamaicans losing their lives or being injured in road crashes,” said NRSC Vice-Chairman Dr Lucien Jones.

There have been 391 road fatalities from 355 fatal crashes since the start of the year, and as the NRSC has indicated, typically, as the festive season approaches, there tends to be an increase in both. Over the last decade, road fatalities have ranged from 77 in 2013 for the period October to December, to a high of 131 in 2021 and 2022, while the overall fatalities represent a 12 per cent decline, with fatal collisions representing an eight per cent reduction when compared to the corresponding period last year. During the period July to September, 92 lives were lost to road crashes with motorcyclists accounting for the highest, followed by pedestrians and private motor vehicle drivers.

On Sunday, November 19, Jamaica joined the global annual commemoration of World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims at a service at Transformed Life Church, Kingston, under the theme ‘Justice’, with the slogan ‘Remember. Support. Act.’

The theme spotlighted traffic law enforcement and thorough investigation and the NRSC executives outlined that they are anticipating the implementation of electronic enforcement in the traffic ticketing system across Jamaica.

Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15-29 globally. In Jamaica, 134 people in that category have lost their lives since the start of the year.

“It’s a sobering reality that many overlook at this time of the year. But we do so to our detriment. For those who are going to parties during the festive season, if you know you’re going to drink, get a designated driver, someone who is responsible enough to get you home safely,” added NRSC Executive Director Paula Fletcher.

Trelawny, St James, Hanover, and Westmoreland account for 31 per cent of road users killed. Portland, St Mary, St Ann account for 17 per cent. Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth account for 20 per cent. St Andrew Central, St Andrew South, Kingston Eastern, Kingston Central, and Kingston Western account for 13 per cent; and St Andrew North, St Catherine North, St Catherine South, and St Thomas account for 18 per cent.