Transport Minister Condemns the Irresponsible Use of Roadways by Some Motorists

Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Minister, Hon. Daryl Vaz, says irresponsible use of the roadways by some motorists has created an unsafe environment for other road users.

Addressing the Ministry’s June 18 press conference at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) offices in New Kingston, Mr. Vaz described the spate of road fatalities as “a national emergency”.

Providing year-to-date figures, the Minister noted that there were 231 fatalities in the first six months of 2022, 205 in 2023, and 192 in 2024, “so we are 13 less than last year”.

Mr. Vaz said that while this indicates a seven per cent decrease when compared with last year, the number of road fatalities is still too high.

“This is still totally unacceptable. This situation is a national emergency. There is no way that we can continue on this path in relation to the loss of lives and the impact that it has on the families, and of course, on our own infrastructure – hospital services and others,” he emphasised.

Motorcyclists, pedestrians and private-motor-vehicle drivers were the top-three road-user categories with the highest number of road fatalities.

The main causes of these fatalities were speeding, failure to keep to the proper traffic lane, and pedestrians walking out or standing in the roadway.