The Road Safety Unit is urging motorcyclists and pillion passengers to wear their helmets to protect themselves from injury or death in the event of a collision.

The appeal follows the deaths of three motorcyclists, including a pillion passenger, who died in traffic crashes last weekend.

The Road Safety Unit says none of them were wearing a helmet. It says, to date, 57 motorcyclists have been killed since the start of the year with 48 per cent of the deaths recorded in western parishes.

It says five of these deaths occurred in St Elizabeth, 12 in Westmoreland, four in St James, and seven in Hanover.

The Corporate Area recorded a total of 10 deaths due to motorcycle related crashes.

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Dr Morais Guy, says investigations carried out by the police into the crashes show that the motorcyclists failed to maintain adequate stopping distance or practice proper techniques of riding.

He says motorcyclists should be ready to respond to any eventualities in the traffic environment, such as, vehicles haphazardly turning, and drivers opening the doors of parked vehicles.

They are also being urged to avoid tailgating. The Road Safety Unit is appealing to motorcyclists and road users to be more attentive and careful on the roads, leading up to the festive season.

A total of 302 deaths have been recorded as a result of motor vehicle crashes since January, with pedestrians, motorcyclists and private motor car drivers accounting for the majority of deaths.