Deadliest Days For Road Users: Friday through Sunday. Statistics from the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) show that weekend days, specifically Friday through Sunday, have proven to be the deadliest for road users in Jamaica this year.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays accounted for 156 fatal collisions and 189 fatalities. These figures represent the deadliest days for road users, with approximately 57 percent of the 334 road users killed as of Friday, November 29.
The authorities outlined the sad reality in the latest weekly crash statistics released on Friday by the ITA.
The figures indicated that Friday is the deadliest day on Jamaica’s thoroughfare. Sixty-six deaths resulted from 57 fatal crashes this year.
There were 62 fatalities resulting from 54 fatal crashes on Saturdays and 61 deaths from 45 fatal crashes on Sundays. Many Jamaicans associate this with Sundays having the least traffic.
In comparison, the fewest fatal crashes and deaths occurred on Thursdays, which are not amongst the deadliest days for road users.
As of November 29, there were 23 fatal crashes and 25 deaths occurring on Thursdays, ITA said.
Mondays were the next safest day, with 37 fatalities resulting from 35 fatal crashes.
Next, Wednesdays saw 40 road users killed in 36 fatal collisions. Tuesdays have so far had 43 deaths resulting from 39 fatal collisions.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays have recorded 133 fatal crashes and 145 deaths for roughly 43 percent of all road deaths in 2024.
Nevertheless, fatalities have decreased by 13 percent, and fatal crashes are down 17 percent this year compared to 2023.
As of the end of October 2024, the ITA projected a nine percent decrease in fatalities.
According to the ITA, motorcyclists account for 34 percent of the road users killed as of November 29. And pedestrians account for 19 percent.
Most vulnerable road users in Jamaica: pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and their passengers
Meanwhile, private motor vehicle drivers account for 18 percent, while private motor vehicle passengers account for 12 percent. Therefore, these days are significantly among the deadliest days for road users.
Additionally, the ITA said vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and their passengers, make up 59 percent of the road fatalities this year. As of November 29, the ITA statistics indicated that males account for 85 percent of all fatalities. Meanwhile, women account for 15 percent.
Since we know Friday is the deadliest day to traverse Jamaica’s thoroughfare, the ITA needs to answer the following questions.
- What specific factors contribute to Fridays being the deadliest day for road users in Jamaica?
- How are the road safety measures in place compared to previous years?
- What initiatives are being considered to reduce road fatalities, particularly among vulnerable road users?
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