There were five traffic fatalities in the first quarter this year, according to the National Statistics Office.

In a statement it said that the number of reported traffic accidents in the first quarter reached 3,244, a decrease of 4.6 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

Decreases were recorded in most districts, except in the southern harbour with an increase of 8.5 per cent.

The northern harbour district registered the most accidents - 1,206, or 37.2 per cent of the total.

In the period under review, 379 traffic casualties were reported, of which 216 involved drivers. There were three fatalities among drivers: 180 injuries were slight and 33 grievous.

During the period under review, 12 passengers and 32 pedestrians suffered grievous injuries, while 77 passengers and 40 pedestrian) were slightly injured.

The injuries suffered by two pedestrians were fatal.

A total 77 per cent of traffic casualties were caused by passenger cars, followed by motorcycles at 12.1 per cent, while 6.9 per cent were caused by goods-carrying vehicles.

In the first quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Sundays, accounting for 19.5 per cent of the total.

The highest accident rate was recorded on Fridays, totalling 540 cases, and the lowest was on Sundays, with 329 cases. Sundays topped the casualty-to-accidents ratio.

Birkirkara registered the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 220 cases. Marsa and Qormi followed, with 183 and 172 reported accidents respectively.