There were three fatalities between July and September this year.

The National Statistics Office said that, during this period, the number of reported traffic accidents reached 3,167, a decrease of 252 cases over the corresponding quarter last year.

Decreases were recorded in all districts except the south eastern and western districts, with the biggest percentage decrease (11.5 per cent) in the northern harbour district, which also accounted for most accidents - 1,113 cases, or 35.1 per cent of the total.

In the quarter under review, 277 traffic casualties were reported, of which 168 involved drivers.

There were two fatalities among drivers. 137 injuries in this group were slight and another 29 were reported as grievous.

During this period 14 passengers and eight pedestrians suffered grievous injuries, while 66 passengers and 20 pedestrians were slightly injured.

The injuries suffered by one passenger proved fatal.

Passenger cars were the cause of 75.5 per cent of traffic casualties, followed by motorcycles at 13.7 per cent; nine per cent of accidents were caused by goods-carrying vehicles.

In the third quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Mondays and Thursdays, both accounting for 15.9 per cent of total casualties. The highest accident rate was recorded on Fridays, totalling 577 cases, and the lowest on Sundays, with 275 cases.

However, Sundays topped the highest casualty-to accident ratios.

The daily time bracket in which most accidents occur is between 9 and 11.59 a.m., with 723 cases, or 22.8 per cent of the total. This is closely followed by the noon -2.59 p.m. time bracket, with 721 cases.

In the period under review, Birkirkara registered the highest number of traffic accidents, with 188 cases. St. Paul's Bay and Marsa followed, with 178 and 172 reported accidents, respectively.