'Be extra careful' Motorists urged to use the roads responsibly this weekend

THE NATIONAL Road Safety Council (NRSC) is appealing to Jamaicans to be extra careful on the roads this holiday weekend.

Last weekend 10 persons lost their lives in road accidents as the nation marked Emancipation Day, and the NRSC wants no more bloodletting on the roads this Independence weekend.

"We owe it to ourselves and our families to be always mindful that if we are reckless on the roads or inconsiderate of others, we can cause our own injury or death and that of others," said Paula Fletcher, executive director of the NRSC.

Fletcher argued that while the police are vigilant in ensuring that persons obey traffic regulations, the onus was on every citizen to be proactive on the roads.

So far this year, 182 persons have died in traffic accidents across the island. That is a six per cent increase over the corresponding period last year.