Despite downward trends and active campaigning by traffic authorities to keep road fatalities 'Below 300' for 2009, crash deaths could still burst the bubble of optimism.

The National Road Safety Unit (NRSU), in its most recent report on March 9, is projecting that road traffic deaths will exceed the 300 mark by year end.

Statistics provided by the NRSU for this month are projecting that there could be some 339 fatalities as a result of motor vehicle crashes this year, two fewer than last year's 341 deaths.

At least 66 persons have already been killed in 57 crashes since the start of the year. For the same period last year, there were 98 crash deaths.

In the face of this projection, however, director of the NRSU, Dr Lucien Jones, told The Gleaner recently that the unit was not concentrating too much on projections.

"Projections are based on things you have no control over. They are theoretical," he said.

Jones said with statistics for 2009 still significantly below those for the corresponding period in 2008, the country is still on its way to achieving its goal of keeping traffic deaths below 300. Fatal crashes and fatalities have decreased by 16 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively, when compared with the similar period in 2008.

He said the police in western Jamaica are working assiduously to address concerns over recent increases in traffic accidents in those parishes.

Jones said the unit was also planning to launch another public education project, aimed at increasing awareness of road-safety measures.

"We are working to reorganise the Island Traffic Authority and plan to embark on a breathalyser campaign," he said.

"If we keep this up, we are confident that we will do pretty well in keeping road fatalities below 300 in 2009," he said.

athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com