The weekend days from Friday through Sunday have proven to be the deadliest for road users in Jamaica this year according to statistics provided by the Island Traffic Authority (ITA).
Combined, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays recorded 156 fatal crashes and 189 fatalities or approximately 57 per cent of the 334 road users killed up to Friday, November 29.
This is outlined in the latest weekly crash statistics released on Friday by the ITA.
The figures show that Friday is the deadliest day on the nation’s roads with 66 deaths recorded from 57 fatal crashes this year.
There were 62 deaths from 54 fatal crashes on Saturdays and 61 deaths from 45 fatal crashes on Sundays, the day of the week most Jamaicans associate with the least traffic.
By comparison, the least number of fatal crashes and fatalities were recorded on Thursdays.
Up to November 29, there were 23 fatal crashes and 25 deaths occurring on a Thursday according to the ITA. Monday was the next safest day with 37 fatalities from 35 fatal crashes; Wednesdays saw 40 roads users killed in 36 fatal collisions; and Tuesdays have so far had 43 deaths from 39 fatal crashes.
Combined, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays have recorded 133 fatal crashes and 145 deaths for roughly 43 per cent of all road deaths in 2024.
Overall, fatalities have decreased by 13 per cent and fatal crashes are down 17 per cent this year when compared with 2023.
The ITA said fatalities as at the end of October 2024 are projected to decrease by nine per cent when compared with the prior year.
It said motorcyclists account for 34 per cent of the road users killed as of November 29; pedestrians account for 19 per cent; private motor vehicle drivers account for 18 per cent; while private motor vehicle passengers account for 12 per cent.
Vulnerable road users (pedestrians, pedalcyclists, motorcyclists and pillions) account for 59 per cent of the road users killed this year.
And males and females account for 85 per cent and 15 per cent respectively of the road fatalities as of November 29 according to the ITA.
