KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Island Traffic Authority (ITA) has released preliminary first-quarter 2026 road safety data, revealing a notable downward trend in traffic-related deaths across the island through the end of March. In total, 62 people lost their lives in 55 separate fatal crashes across the country over the first three months of the year, marking a significant improvement from 2025’s opening quarter. When compared to the same period last year, overall traffic fatalities have fallen by 33 percent, and the number of fatal crash incidents has dropped by 35 percent, according to the ITA’s official tally.
Even with this encouraging early-year progress, the traffic regulatory agency is not lowering its guard on road safety initiatives. Officials have maintained a cautious outlook, projecting that full-year 2026 road fatalities will only see a 4 percent decline compared to 2025’s total death toll. This projection signals that continued public education and enforcement of traffic rules will remain critical priorities for the ITA through the rest of the year.
A breakdown of fatality data by road user group shows widespread improvements across most categories. Motorcyclists, who made up 27 percent of all first-quarter fatalities (17 deaths total), recorded a 35 percent drop in deaths year-over-year, equal to nine fewer lives lost compared to the first quarter of 2025. Pedestrians, the second most affected group, accounted for 23 percent of fatalities (14 deaths), with a 26 percent decrease that translates to five fewer pedestrian deaths than last year’s opening quarter.
Private motor vehicle-related fatalities show a mixed picture: passenger deaths edged up 8 percent (one additional fatality, for a total of 13, equal to 21 percent of all fatalities) through March, but deaths of private vehicle drivers dropped sharply by 46 percent, or 11 fewer fatalities, compared to 2025’s first quarter.
Geographically, the distribution of fatal crashes varies considerably across Jamaica’s parishes. St Elizabeth recorded the highest number of road deaths at 10, followed by Westmoreland and Trelawny, which each logged 8 fatalities. Manchester, St Ann and St Catherine followed with 5 deaths each, while St Andrew, Clarendon and St James each reported four first-quarter fatalities. Kingston, St Thomas, St Mary and Hanover each recorded 2 deaths over the three-month period, and Portland logged just one road fatality, the lowest total of any parish.