TRAFFIC Chief Ian Amsterdam yesterday said that speeding and inattentiveness remain the leading contributors to general road accidents and fatalities, with pedestrians being the most vulnerable to fatalities.Giving statistics, the senior officer disclosed that so far this year 32 road accidents have been recorded with 41 deaths, while for 2014 they tallied 40 accidents with 43 deaths with a 5% decrease in deaths and 20% in fatalities.
Amsterdam stated that as for serious accidents, they saw a 20% decrease with 148 in 2015 and 134 for 2014, when there was a 20% decrease in minor accidents which stood at 189 for 2014 and 174 in 2015.
He added that they recorded an 8% decrease in that category, but with regard to “damage” accidents, there were 290 in 2015 with 296 in 2014, a 2% decrease.
The traffic chief told this publication that 16 pedestrians have been killed in road accidents this year, while 14 lost their lives in 2014.
He noted that this year 10 passengers in motorcars have lost their lives in road accidents, while seven were killed in 2014.
Amsterdam said that as for passengers in minibuses, two fatalities have been recorded this year, while there was none last year. With regard to lorry occupants, there has been one fatality this year and one last year.
He added that as for drivers, four were killed last year, while seven have lost their lives this year; seven motorcyclists were killed in 2014, while three have lost their lives this year.
The senior officer pointed out that 10 pedal cyclists were killed in 2014, while three have lost their lives this year.
He disclosed that ‘C’ Division has chalked up 14 deaths in road accidents this year, while there were only four last year in that same division.
Amsterdam stated that they have reintroduced their targeted enforcement campaign countrywide, which will be intensified and in this rainy season he urged all road users to be on the look out for each other and for drivers to use the roads with care and consideration.
Finally,Amsterdam explained that drivers are asked to park their vehicles side by side instead of diagonally. The police, he said, will be forceful in their efforts to reduce congestion in the city in areas such as Camp and Water Streets, among others.