With just 16 days into the new year, the Road Safety Unit (RSU) in the Island Traffic Authority is reporting that 12 Jamaicans have lost their lives on the nation’s roadways since the start of the year.

In its latest update, the RSU said these road crashes resulted from 11 fatal collisions.

The parishes of Westmoreland, St Catherine and St Andrew accounted for the highest number of road fatalities to date, with males accounting for 88 per cent of road deaths.

Motorcyclists, pedestrians and private motor vehicle drivers were among the top three road-user categories with the highest number of road fatalities to date.

Some 425 road fatalities were recorded last year, representing a 13 per cent decline in fatal collisions when compared to the previous year.

The RSU says fatalities thus far for 2024 are projected to decrease by 2 per cent when compared to 2023.

Director of the Road Safety Unit, Deidrie Hudson-Sinclair, is calling on all road users to have a change of behaviour when traversing the roadways.

“When we leave home, the intention is to get to our destination safely, and back home. Road users must ensure they cut out distractions, cut out all unnecessary actions that could lead to a crash or a fatality and think about our loved ones who we want to go home to. It is also very important that we learn the road code and abide by it,” she said.

The RSU director is also reminding road users to wear protective gear/clothing at all times and increase their vigilance at night and during adverse weather conditions.