Motorists were urged today to be careful over the festive season, not just for themselves but also for pedestrians.

Jonathan Joslin, consultant at the Mater Dei Casualty Department said this morning that of 10 fatal traffic accidents this year, five were pedestrians. In 2013, out of 18 traffic fatalities only two were pedestrians.

He said his appeal for motorists to avoid drink-driving applied throughout the year. He said accidents peaked in December and also in the summer, when most people went out.

Over the past two years there was an average of 15,000 collisions every year.

There was no doubt, he said that drink-driving campaigns were working, but serious traffic accidents were also caused by other factors such as tiredness and the growing problem of texting while driving.

Dr Joslin was joined in his appeal by, among others, the police, Transport Malta, the Health Promotion Department, Touring Club Malta, the Civil Protection Department, Sedqa and the parliamentary secretariat for health.

Assistant Police Commissioner Sandro Zarb said police breathalyser tests would not be focused exclusively on Paceville and Bugibba but would be held throughout Malta and Gozo because of private parties held elsewhere.

Tony Pisani, Operations Manager of the Civil Protection Department urged restaurant and bar managers not to overbook and to avoid overcrowding because of the possibility of evacuation. They also needed to ensure that emergency exists were not blocked.

Dr Charmaine Gauci from the Health Promotion Department said her appeal to parents was that it was better for their children to sleep over after parties than to be forced to drive back home if they had been drinking.

Dr Gauci said the message should be zero tolerance. People who were driving should simply not drink, whatever the amount.