KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica recorded a 13 per cent reduction in road fatalities and a 10 per cent decline in fatal crashes last year when compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

According to a release on Thursday, data from the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Island Traffic Authority indicate that 425 road fatalities were recorded, resulting from 384 crashes as of December 31, 2023. In 2022, a total of 488 fatalities were recorded on the nation’s roadways.

Westmoreland, St Catherine and St Andrew accounted for the highest number of fatalities, with males accounting for 87 per cent of the latter.

Vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, pedal-cyclists, motorcyclists and pillions, accounted for 59 per cent of the fatalities. The release shared that a breakdown of the figure showed that pedestrians accounted for 18 per cent; pedal cyclists, six per cent; motorcyclists, 32 per cent; and pillion passengers, four per cent.

Additionally, private motor-vehicle drivers accounted for 17 per cent; private motor vehicle passengers, 12 per cent; public passenger vehicle drivers, two per cent; public-passenger-vehicle passengers, five per cent and commercial motor-vehicle passengers, two per cent.

In the meantime, the RSU is urging road users to be vigilant, obey the rules, and always take caution despite crashes and fatalities trending downwards.