An increase in road fatalities has reignited the call for the swift implementation of the new Road Traffic Act.
Just three months into 2022, and over 100 persons have died on the country’s roads. 109 people have been killed in motor vehicle crashes as at march 24. At least 5 of those deaths occurred on Friday, march 18 in separate incidents in Hanover, Trelawny and St. Elizabeth; an American citizen was among those who perished.
The road safety unit says fatalities have gone up by 14 per cent and fatal crashes by 3 per cent when compared with the corresponding period in 2021. He cites a demerit point system, effective ticketing system and the provision of cameras to detect speeding and running the red-light as three important aspects of a functioning deterrent. Motorcyclists account for 26 per cent of road users killed since the start of the year.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says he’s deeply concerned about the number of road fatalities and is urging caution.
