Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
A policeman examines the body of a woman who was thrown from a Toyota Hiace bus, which crashed on a section of Highway 2000, last week, killing five persons and leaving nine others injured. - FILE
THERE HAS been an increase in the number of road accidents and fatalities since the start of the year compared to the same period last year, according to the police.
Elan Powell, senior super-intendent of police in charge of traffic, said on Wednesday that the number of reported traffic accidents since the start of the year stood at 126, four more than the number for the same period last year. Up to Wed-nesday, road accidents had resulted in 144 deaths, eight more than the number for the same period last year.
"Spanish Town Road is the most prominent road for motor vehicle accidents, followed by the Llandavory main road in St. Ann," SSP Powell said. Ten persons have died on that road since the start of the year.
"St. Ann has seen a tremendous increase over where they were last year," he said. "Last year they had seven accidents, resulting in eight deaths, but this year there have been 16 accidents resulting in 19 deaths."
STEADY INCREASE
Additionally, SSP Powell noted that there has been an increase in the number of pedal cyclist deaths. The figure for this year has doubled so far, as 16 cyclists have been killed compared to eight for the same period last year.
Meanwhile, there has been a steady decrease in the number of pedestrian deaths. Up to this month, there have been a reported 47 deaths, seven fewer than the same period last year.
SSP Powell told The Gleaner, that the police will be increasing its presence in areas they have termed 'black spots'.
"We will be increasing our presence in terms of enforcement activities and just being present on those roads," he said, stressing that speeding, overloading, improper over-taking and bad tires will be a focus of the lawmen.
