Road fatalities threaten to overtake HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of premature death throughout the world, Prime Minister Bruce Golding said yesterday in a speech delivered on his behalf by Transport Minister Mike Henry.

"More than one million people die each year as a result of road accidents and another 12 million are injured," Henry read during the World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims worship service held at the Saxthorpe Methodist church on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew.

He said the matter was particularly more painful when it involved children, as every three minutes a child is killed in a road accident somewhere in the world.

In Jamaica, since the start of the year, close to 300 individuals have been killed in traffic accidents, 17 of which were children.

Special plea

Endorsing the launch of the 'Save 300' campaign, which aims to keep road deaths below 300 each year, the prime minister made a special plea to road users, both motorists and pedestrians, to be especially careful.

"I appeal to the motorist, observe the speed limit. When you speed, you have less control over the vehicle. It is harder to stop or to take evasive action to avoid an accident," read Henry. He advised pedestrians to "look out, watch out and be careful".

Golding said that, under the Save 300 project, he would be implementing some changes to the law.

"(We will be) instituting stricter enforcement, increasing spot checks and traffic surveillance and improving certification standards," he said.