KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s road safety landscape presented a complex picture in the final quarter of 2025, with the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) reporting 81 fatalities resulting from 68 separate fatal collisions occurring between October and December. While the overall figures indicate a downward trend in road deaths, certain user groups and parishes experienced concerning increases.
The geographical distribution of fatalities revealed significant disparities across the island. St. Catherine Parish emerged as the most dangerous region, recording a distressing 22 deaths. It was followed by St. Elizabeth, often called the nation’s breadbasket, with 12 fatalities, and St. Ann with nine. Manchester and Westmoreland parishes each reported seven deaths, while St. Thomas and St. James recorded four fatalities apiece. Portland stood out as the safest jurisdiction with zero fatalities during the three-month monitoring period.
Comparative analysis with the same quarter in 2024 showed a 6% reduction in total fatalities and an 11% decrease in the number of fatal crashes. However, this overall improvement masked troubling trends among specific road user categories. Motorcyclists remained particularly vulnerable, accounting for 28 deaths (35% of all fatalities), though this represented a 13% improvement from 2024.
Conversely, private motor vehicle drivers and pedestrians both experienced 7% increases in fatalities compared to the previous year. Drivers accounted for 16 deaths (20% of total fatalities), while pedestrians represented 15 deaths (19% of the total).
The data revealed a pronounced gender disparity, with males comprising 85% of all fatalities compared to 15% for females. Most concerning was the statistic showing that vulnerable road users—including pedestrians, motorcyclists, pillion passengers, and pedalcyclists—collectively accounted for 57% of all deaths during the review period.