PRIME Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said there were 11,157 road accidents last year, 2,234 of which resulted in injuries.

He noted that fatalities increased from 51 in 2023 to 66 in 2024, and 15 people have already died in accidents this year.

“Behind these numbers are faces,” he said at RM Bailey Senior High during the launch of a national road safety jingle and mascot yesterday. “A father who won’t see his daughter graduate. A sister who never made it home. A best friend missing from the group chat. These are not statistics — they are people. And every loss is a wake-up call.”

Students and a music teacher at RM Bailey composed the road safety jingle, while a fashion design teacher created the mascot.

“Your work is not just art — it’s activism,” Mr Davis said. “This jingle will echo in taxis, banks, and radio stations. It will play at traffic lights and liquor stores. Its beat will remind us: ‘Watch Da Road!’ And our mascot? It’s more than a character — it’s a symbol of vigilance. Together, these creations prove that the Orange Economy is not just about culture; it is about change.”

Mr Davis announced that a national road safety creative competition for students ages 11 to 16 will launch next month.

He also encouraged companies to join a Road Safety Corporate Influencer Network, sponsoring school zones, rewarding safe drivers, and using their platforms to amplify the road safety message.

Earlier this month, Transport and Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis revealed that over 1,600 tickets were issued for uninsured vehicles in New Providence during the first eight months of 2024.