ITA reports encouraging first quarter with road deaths down 33 per cent
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is reporting that 62 people have been killed in 55 fatal crashes as at the end of the first quarter of 2026.
According to the ITA, as at March 31, fatalities have decreased by 33 per cent and fatal crashes are down 35 per cent when compared to prior year.
Despite the promising start to the year, the ITA is remaining cautious, projecting that, “As at the first quarter, fatalities for the year are projected to decrease by four per cent when compared with 2025.”
Motorcyclists accounted for 27 per cent of the fatalities or 17 deaths during the first quarter. Overall, motorcyclist fatalities decreased by 35 per cent or nine when compared with the similar period in 2025.
Pedestrians accounted for 23 per cent or 14 fatalities during the quarter, an overall decrease of 26 per cent or five fewer deaths.
The statistics also show that private motor vehicle passengers accounted for 21 per cent or 13 fatalities as at the end of March, an increase of eight per cent or one fatality. Significantly, private motor vehicle driver fatalities decreased by 46 per cent or 11 when compared with the similar period last year.
Meanwhile, St Elizabeth recorded 10 fatalities during the quarter, the most by any parish. Westmoreland and Trelawny were next with eight deaths each, followed by Manchester, St Ann and St Catherine with five fatalities each.
St Andrew, Clarendon and St James each had four first quarter deaths, while Kingston, St Thomas, St Mary and Hanover had two each. Portland recorded a single road fatality in the first three months of the year.