The Road Safety Unit (RSU) is reporting a 53 per cent decline in road fatalities and a 50 per cent decline in fatal crashes up to Friday, January 27 when compared to the corresponding period in 2022.

According to the RSU, which is located in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, 18 people have been killed in 16 fatal crashes since the start of the year.

A record total of 488 people perished on the nation’s roads in 2022, one more than the 487 who died in 2021. The RSU is projecting that fatalities will increase by 0.4 per cent this year when compared with 2022.

Meanwhile, a breakdown of the fatalities since the start of the year shows the following:

• Pedestrians account for 28 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

• Private motor vehicle drivers account for six per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

• Private motor vehicle passengers account for 11 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

• Motorcyclists account for 33 per cent of the road users killed since January 1.

• Commercial motor vehicle passengers account for six per cent of the road users killed this year.

* Government motor vehicle passengers account for six per cent (6%) of the road users killed since the start of the year.

* Passengers overall account for 22 per cent of all road deaths.

Meanwhile, the group deemed most vulnerable road users (pedestrians, pedalcyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders) account for 72 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.

Overall, males account for 83 per cent of all road deaths so far this year, while females account for 17 per cent.

The parishes of St. Catherine and Manchester each account for 22 per cent of the road deaths, followed by St. Elizabeth and St. Andrew at 17 per cent each.