KINGSTON, Jamaica—Deaths as a result of motor vehicle crashes have now passed the 250-mark this year, standing at 253 as of Friday, September 25.

This is according to the latest daily crash statistics released by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) which has indicated that the 253 deaths resulted from 219 fatal crashes. The Authority said fatalities have decreased by 12 per cent when compared to prior year, while fatal crashes decreased by 13 per cent when compared with the similar period in 2025.

A breakdown of the statistics shows that motorcyclists account for 69 deaths or 27 per cent of the fatalities since the start of the year. The categories private motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians, both account for 55 fatalities or 22 per cent of the overall count, while private motor vehicle passengers account for 34 deaths or 13 per cent.

The ITA has recorded 14 deaths among passengers of commercial motor vehicles, accounting for six per cent of the overall death toll, while 10 pillion passengers have been numbered among those killed on the nation’s roads.

Meanwhile, vulnerable road users made up of pedestrians, pedalcyclists, motorcyclists and pillion passengers combined – account for 55 per cent of all fatalities since the start of the year. Overall, passengers account for 25 per cent of the fatalities.

And, the ITA is reporting that males and females account 85 per cent 15 per cent respectively of fatalities since the start of the year.

-Lynford Simpson