Fewer road accidents this summer, but more lives lost - NSO

This summer saw nearly 4,000 road accidents, a drop of 10 per cent over the same period last year, but the number of fatalities increased, NSO figures show.

Between July and September, there were seven fatalities, two more than the same period last year. These included four drivers, two passengers and a pedestrian.

Graphic: NSO.

The week between July 23 and 29 proved especially deadly, accounting for six of the seven fatalities in summer and marking the deadliest week on Malta’s roads in 25 years.

Among the six victims that week were a driving instructor crushed by a runaway bus, a motorcyclist and a pedestrian killed in a crash involving a parked car. The following month, a 42-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run in Birkirkara.

The NSO said the Northern Harbour district – comprising Birkirkara, Gżira, Ħamrun, Msida, Pembroke, Pietà, Qormi, St Julian’s, San Gwann, Santa Venera, Sliema, Swieqi and Ta’ Xbiex – saw the most incidents with almost 1,300 accidents, or a third of the total.

Birkirkara saw the highest number of accidents (224), followed by St Paul's Bay (218) and Qormi (186).

Graphic: NSO.

Traffic accidents were most likely to occur on Tuesdays, which saw 690 cases, or almost a fifth of the total, while Sundays were the most dangerous, recording the highest number of casualties (69).

Accidents were most likely to occur between 12pm and 3pm, with just less than a quarter taking place then. Between 9am and 12pm was the next most likely time to see road accidents. The least number of accidents occurred between 3am and 6am.

The vast majority – seven out of ten – of those grievously injured in road accidents were men, while three out of ten casualties were between the ages of 26 and 40.

Around half (51%) of traffic casualties involved passenger cars, followed by motorcycles (39%) and goods vehicles (4%). Some 10 cyclists were involved in traffic accidents, with six suffering grievous injuries and four slight injuries.

Fatalities

On July 23, a 79-year-old woman from Mosta died after the Renault van she was a passenger in crashed with a Suzuki Swift car in Lija.

Three days later, Tenyo Kosev died when his Honda motorcycle was involved in a collision with a BMW 1 Series motorcycle in Pembroke at around 1am.

Three people died on July 27: Mildred Azzopardi was crushed to death after a vehicle ploughed into a parked car, fatally hitting the 62-year-old, while a 71-year-old woman was killed in a head-on collision involving former president George Abela, and a 58-year-old motorcyclist died after losing control of his vehicle.

Tallinja driving instructor Karmenu Muscat died on July 29 in a freak accident at the Floriana Park and Ride when a bus rolled back on him.

On August 10, motorcycle food courier Khim Bahadur Pun, 42, was killed in a hit-and-run. A 17-year-old was later arrested and charged.