Over 36 traffic accidents daily

There were 3,276 reported traffic accidents, including five fatalities, in the first three months of this year, down by only 31 on the same period last year, according to figures issued yesterday by the National Statistics Office.

The figure works out at more than 36 accidents every day.

The NSO said 130 drivers, 49 pedestrians and 56 passengers were injured. There were five fatalities.

The office said the number of accidents in the southern harbour area was up by 11.2 per cent, while those in the Northern area increased by 2.8 per cent. The rate of accidents dropped in the other areas.

The number of slightly-injured persons in the first quarter of 2003 totalled 174; of these, 106 were males and 68 were females.

In the 15-24 and 25-39 year age groups, 41 and 27 males respectively suffered slight injuries. The number of injured females in the same age groups reached 29 and 18 respectively.

A total of 61 sustained grievous and fatal injuries; 40 were males and 21 were females. There were five traffic deaths in this quarter, four males and one female.

In the first quarter of 2003, of the 235 casualties 67.2 per cent were caused by passenger cars, while 211.1 per cent were caused by motorcycles. There were 84 casualties in the 15-24 years age group; 67 of them occurring to people travelling in passenger cars either as drivers or passengers.