The number of persons killed on the nation’s roadways since the start of the year is nearing the 350 mark after surpassing the total for all of last year.
A total of 348 persons – 301 males and 47 – female have died in motor vehicle crashes since January 1, statistics from the Road Safety Unit in the Transport Ministry has revealed.
That’s 50 more road deaths or an increase of 17 per cent when compared with the corresponding period last year.
A total of 322 persons died in motor vehicles crashes all of last year.
“The overriding cause of these deaths has been the reckless use of the roadways,” the Road Safety Unit said in reference to the carnage on the roadways this year.
Last month alone, according to the statistics, 45 persons were killed in motor vehicle crashes, the highest over a one-month so far period this year.
Forty-three persons died on the roads in May and 39 in August.
A breakdown of the statistics show that 149 or just over 40 per cent of the persons killed in crashes this year were between 20 and 39 years old.
The Road Safety Unit says vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, pedal cyclists, motorcyclists and pillion riders accounted for 58 per cent of the total number of fatalities so far this year.
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