By Claude Mills, Staff ReporterAS THE September school term looms, children, especially pedestrians, remain at a high risk of being killed in motor vehicle accidents on the nation's streets, according to figures provided by the Road Safety Unit.
The Unit, which operates out of the Ministry of Transprot and Works, has recorded an 18 per cent increase in the number of road fatalities involving children this year, when compared to the corresponding period last year. The figures include two children who were killed in yesterday's accident on the Mount Rosser main road near the St. Ann/St. Catherine border.
"We are outstripping last year's figures as 33 children have been killed when compared to the figures for last year when there were 28 deaths," said Chris Walker, public relations officer at the Unit.
He added that: "We are very concerned especially since children are more prone to be injured during the back-to-school period, more than at any other period of the year because of their increased exposure to danger, and the fact that there are so many children going to school for the first time."
Of the 33 children killed on the roads since the start of the year, 20 of them were pedestrians. "The figures are quite alarming," Mr. Walker said. He noted that 2002 had recorded the highest number of fatalities in the last seven years. ..."And we haven't even got to September yet."
Last year, 50 children were killed in accidents, a 13 per cent increase over the 44 who were killed in 2001. In June, the nation cringed at the story of three siblings killed on the Prospect main road in St. Thomas by what was reported to be a speeding motor car.
Pedestrians are in danger on many roads because of the lack of sidewalks and verges, poorly maintained roads and improper signage. And the police are starved of resources to enforce safe behaviour among motorists, Mr. Walker said.
"Our data shows that if people drive within the speed limit, it is less likely that a child will be killed if there is an accident. Our data shows that only one in 10 children die when hit at a speed of 30 miles per hour. He or she is more likely to suffer just broken limbs, but at speeds up to 50 miles per hour, almost all children struck die," Mr. Walker said.
The speed limit in 'built-up areas' is 50 kilometres per hour, but this is often ignored by drivers, say the police.
