MaltaMedia.com

The National Statistics Office confirmed there were two traffic fatalities in the second quarter this year with 3,741 reported traffic accidents, almost equal to the ones in the corresponding quarter last year.

The largest increase in accidents was registered in Gozo and Comino. On the other hand, the Southern Harbour district registered the largest decrease (7.5 per cent) in traffic accidents.

In the period under review, 438 traffic casualties were reported, of which 250 involved drivers. Among this group there were 214 injuries which were slight and 34 were reported as grievous. Furthermore, the injuries sustained by two drivers, one male and one female, proved fatal.

During the period under review, 46 other persons (14 passengers and 32 pedestrians) suffered grievous injuries, while 142 (102 passengers and 40 pedestrians) were slightly injured.

On a gender basis, slightly-injured persons in the second quarter numbered 356: 209 males and 147 females. Grievously-injured persons totalled 80, the majority being males. The majority of casualties were in the 25-39 age group.

78.8 per cent of traffic casualties were caused by passenger cars, followed by motorcycles at 12.8 per cent, while 5.5 per cent were caused by goods-carrying vehicles.

In the second quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Wednesdays, accounting for 19.4 per cent of total casualties. The highest number of accidents was recorded on Mondays, totaling 594 cases, and the lowest was recorded on Sundays, with 408 cases. 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 788 cases, or 21.1 per cent of the total. This is followed by the 09:00-11:59 time bracket, with 764 cases. The least number of accidents occurring daily took place between 03:00 and 05:59 (81 cases).

In the period under review, Hal Qormi registered the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 242 cases.
Birkirkara and Marsa were next, with 223 and 204 reported accidents respectively NSO added.