Data from the National Statistics Office today, show that during the first quarter of 2021, road traffic accidents and casualties declined. Road traffic fatalities amounted to one.

In the Gozo and Comino district there were 163 road traffic accidents, down 5.8% on the same period last year.

Non-injury road accidents in the Gozo and Comino district numbered 141, down 9.6%. While injury road accidents went up to 22, a 29.4% increase on last year.

As regards the number of road traffic accidents, the highest number in the Gozo and Comino district was recorded in Victoria with 49, this was down by 9 on last year.

Seven localities in the Gozo and Comino district registered less than 5 road traffic accidents each during the first quarter of 2021. The localities of Ghasri and San Lawrenz reported one road traffic accident each.On a national basis, the number of reported traffic accidents during first quarter 2021 reached 2,864, down by 14.7% over the same period in 2020. The Northern Harbour district registered the most accidents with 1,023 cases or 35.7% of all accidents.

Road traffic casualties decreased by 0.3% to 305 over the same period in 2020. Grievously injured persons amounted to 81, and consisted of 52 drivers, 13 passengers and 16 pedestrians/cyclists/other.

The NSO said that the injuries suffered by one pedestrian proved fatal. During this quarter, one less fatality occurred when compared to the same period in 2020.

The majority of those grievously injured were males (77.8%), whereas the fatality that occurred during this quarter involved a female. Most of the casualties (60.0%) involved persons in the 26 to 59 age-bracket.

It was found that the largest number of road traffic casualties (57.0%) involved passenger cars, followed by motorcycles (33.4%) and goods-carrying vehicles (6.6%).

The fatality comprised of a pedestrian hit by a passenger car. Cyclists hit in traffic accidents amounted to 11, of which three suffered grievous injuries. Road traffic casualties resulting from accidents between vehicles topped the list with 68.5% of all road traffic casualties.

The NSO also noted that the highest number of road traffic casualties occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday with 50 casualties each, while the highest number of road traffic accidents occurred on Wednesday with 464 cases or 16.2% of the total.

The time bracket during which most road traffic accidents occurred was between 09:00 and 11:59 with 684 cases or 23.9% of the total, followed by the 12:00-14:59 time bracket with 675 cases. The least number of accidents occurring daily took place between 03:00 and 05:59 with 30 cases.

The NSO also said that the highest incidence of road traffic accidents was registered in Birkirkara with 211 cases, followed by Hal Qormi and In-Naxxar, with 169 and 135 cases respectively. L-Isla reported two cases of traffic accidents.

All districts, except for the Western district, recorded a decrease in road traffic accidents when compared to the first quarter of the previous year. The Southern Harbour District registered the highest percentage decrease of 31.4% in road traffic accidents, followed by the South Eastern District and Northern Harbour District.

Permalink: Road traffic accidents in Gozo and Comino district down 5.8%