Be the first to comment!There were six traffic fatalities in the first quarter this year
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In the first quarter of 2010, the number of reported traffic accidents reached 3,302, a decrease of 100 cases or 2.9 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year. Drops were recorded in the Southern and Northern Harbour districts, with the highest percentage decrease occurring in the latter (6.5 per cent). On the other hand, the Western district registered the highest percentage increase (5.9 per cent) in traffic accidents.
In the period under review, 280 traffic casualties were reported, of which 163 involved drivers. There were two fatalities among drivers, while 137 injuries in this group were slight and the other 24 were reported as grievous. During this period, 24 other persons (nine passengers and 15 pedestrians) suffered grievous injuries, while 89 (65 passengers and 24 pedestrians) were slightly injured. Furthermore, the injuries suffered by four persons (two passengers and two pedestrians) proved fatal.
On a gender basis, slightly-injured persons in the first quarter this year numbered 226: 106 males and 120 females. Grievously-injured persons totalled 48, the majority being males. The fatalities in the quarter under review comprised four males and two females. The majority of casualties were aged 25- 39.
83.9 per cent of traffic casualties were caused by passenger cars, followed by goods-carrying vehicles at 7.9 per cent, while 6.8 per cent were caused by motorcycles. In the first quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Sundays, accounting for 24.3 per cent of total casualties. The highest accident rate was recorded on Thursdays, totalling 522 cases, and the lowest was recorded on Sundays, with 353 cases. However, Sundays topped the highest casualty-to- accidents ratio.
The daily time bracket in which most accidents occur is between 12:00 and 14:59, with 729 cases, or 22.1 per cent of the total. This is followed by the 09:00-11:59 time bracket, with 680 cases. The least number of accidents occurring daily took place between 03:00 and 05:59 (76 cases). In the period under review, Birkirkara registered the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 212 cases. Qormi and Msida were next, with 200 and 189 reported accidents respectively.
