KINGSTON, Jamaica — With 19 deaths recorded up to Friday, November 15, the number of children killed in motor vehicle crashes this year has seen an alarming 46 per cent increase when compared with the same period in 2023.

Thirty-two elderly persons were also killed during the same period, a 37 per cent decrease when compared with 2023.

The statistics are contained in the weekly traffic crash report of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) which was released on Friday. According to the report, child fatalities as at the end of September are projected to increase by 22 per cent when compared with last year while elderly fatalities are projected to decrease by 24 per cent.

The report also listed 59 pedestrians being killed as of November 15 and said this category of road users will register a three per cent increase in fatalities this year when compared to 2023 figures. Of note is that 59 pedestrians were killed in 59 fatal pedestrian crashes. The ITA said pedestrian fatalities and fatal crashes decreased by eleven per cent when compared with the similar period in 2023.

It said private motor vehicle passenger fatalities as at the end of June are projected to decrease by 13 per cent when compared to 2023 while private motor vehicle driver fatalities, as at the end of September, are projected to decrease by eleven per cent.

Among motorcyclists, 106 were killed in 106 fatal crashes this year, an eight per cent decrease. However, motorcyclist fatalities, as at the end of September, are projected to increase by three per cent when compared to 2023, while pedalcyclist fatalities, as at the end of September, are projected to decrease by a significant 29 per cent.

And despite 57 drivers of private motor vehicles being killed in 57 fatal crashes, there has been a big 17 per cent reduction in fatalities among this group of road users.

There have been 30 multiple fatal collisions up to November 15 which have resulted in 72 deaths the ITA said.