The police, at the start of April, were taking credit for a big 20 per cent reduction in road fatalities; they attributed the decline to, among other things, stepped up enforcement of the new Road Traffic Act with its much tougher penalties for traffic breaches.

On March 31, the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) reported the 20 per cent decline in road deaths when compared with the corresponding period in 2024. It represented 20 fewer deaths as at March 21. At that time, 80 people had been killed in 74 fatal crashes with fatal crashes recording a 15 per cent decline.

At that time, 22 motorcyclists, 19 pedestrians, 20 private motor vehicle drivers and eight passengers of private motor vehicles were numbered among the dead. There were also four pillion passengers and three pedalcyclists who were killed.

Fast forward to Friday, July 25 and the daily crash statistics released by the ITA show that these gains have been completely wiped out. As of last Friday, 223 people had been killed in 192 fatal crashes since the start of the year. The ITA said fatalities increased by four per cent (eight more deaths) when compared to prior year, while fatal crashes increased by two per cent.

The number of motorcyclists killed has jumped to 60, representing 27 per cent of the overall fatalities since the start of the year. Private motor vehicle drivers now account for 46 deaths or 21 per cent of the fatalities; pedestrian deaths have moved from 19 to 41 or 18 per cent; while private motor vehicle passenger deaths have skyrocketed from eight to 39 or 17 per cent during the period.

The ITA said pedalcyclists now account for 23 deaths or six percent; pillion passengers account for ten deaths or four per cent; and public passenger vehicle passengers account for five deaths or two per cent of the overall fatalities since the start of the year. Two drivers of public passenger vehicles perished in road crashes this year; they make up one per cent of the death toll.

Meanwhile, vulnerable road users – pedestrians, pedalcyclists, motorcyclists and pillion passengers – combine for 56 per cent of the fatalities so far this year. Males account for 84 per cent while females account for 16 per cent of those killed on the nation’s roads this year.