KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s road fatalities are set for a double-digit reduction in 2024 while falling below the 400 mark for the first time in five years and hitting a seven-year low.

On the final day of 2024, the total number of road fatalities stands at 364, a 14 per cent decrease compared to the 425 deaths recorded in 2023, according to the Island Traffic Authority (ITA).

Westmoreland and St Catherine accounted for most of the fatalities this year with a combined 119 deaths.

St Catherine had a combined 62 fatalities across all divisions while Westmoreland had 57 fatalities, with motorcyclists accounting for 26 or just under half the deaths. St Andrew with 38 and St Ann with 37 rounded out the four parishes that saw the most fatalities.

The parishes with the least recorded motor vehicle deaths were Kingston with seven and Portland with eight.

The ITA says vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and pillions account for 60 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

While the reduced number is hailed as a success, the ITA is still cautioning road users against risky behaviour and encouraging defensive driving as the holidays continue.

According to ITA statistics, 322 road users were killed in 2017, 389 in 2018, 440 in 2019; 433 in 2020; 487 in 2021; 488 in 2022 and 425 in 2023.