KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) has reported a substantial decrease in road fatalities for the month of July 2024. According to the latest statistics released by the Road Safety Unit (RSU), there has been a 40% reduction in road deaths compared to July of the previous year. Additionally, there has been a 44% drop in the number of fatal accidents.
In July 2024, 21 people lost their lives in 19 fatal crashes. This marks a notable decline from July 2023, which saw 35 fatalities from 34 fatal collisions. The ITA’s efforts in improving road safety seem to be yielding positive results in reducing the number of lives lost on Jamaican roads.
The RSU has categorized the fatalities for the current year as follows: pedestrians accounted for 14% of the deaths, private motor vehicle drivers made up 29%, private motor vehicle passengers constituted 24%, and motorcyclists also represented 29%.
Interestingly, there were zero fatalities among certain groups of road users for the month of July. These groups include pillion riders, pedal cyclists, and passengers of commercial motor vehicles. Both pillion riders and pedal cyclists are traditionally considered among the most vulnerable on the roads, alongside pedestrians and motorcyclists.
This significant reduction in fatalities across several categories of road users indicates that road safety measures are having a beneficial impact. Continued efforts and initiatives by the ITA and RSU are likely to further improve safety on Jamaica’s roads.
For the complete statistics and more information on the Island Traffic Authority’s efforts, please visit the official publications from the ITA and RSU.
