Five road deaths in third quarter

There were 3,917 reported traffic accidents between July and September this year, 478 fewer than reported in the same quarter last year but resulting in five fatalities.

Accidents in Gozo and Comino alone, however, increased by 33 to 231 from 198, the National Statistics Office said yesterday.

In the quarter under review, 167 drivers sustained injuries as a result of traffic accidents. Of these, 133 suffered slight injuries and 34 suffered either grievous or fatal injuries.

During the same period, 50 pedestrians and 106 passengers were injured.

The number of slightly injured persons in the third quarter of 2004 totalled 247. Of these, 150 were males and 97 were females. In the 15-24 and 25-39 year age groups, 54 and 38 males respectively suffered slight injuries. The number of injured females in the same age group reached 31 and 24 respectively.

Persons sustaining grievous and fatal injuries totalled 71; 31 were males and 40 were females. There were five traffic deaths in this quarter, all males.

Of the 323 reported casualties, just over 75 per cent were caused by passenger cars and 13 per cent by motorcycles.