A Jamaica Observer file photo of vehicles involved in a crash. The Opposition People’s National Party is hoping that enforcement of the new Road Traffic Act will help to reduce the number of accidents on the nation’s roads.

THERE has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of fatal crashes on the Jamaican roads, in comparison to the corresponding period last year.

According to figures released by the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining, 187 fatal crashes occurred up to the start of July last year in comparison to 168 this year.

In the meantime, there has been a three per cent drop in fatalities, with 195 recorded at the start of July his year, compared to 201 for the same period in 2015.

Director of public relations and communication in the Ministry of Transport, Vando Palmer, said the decrease is a result of the sustained activities of ‘Operation Zero Tolerance’, which begun on May 7. He said the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) has since then has removed 1,715 pairs of licence plates from defective vehicles.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/auto/Fatal-crashes-down-10-per-cent_66476