Motorbike fatalities more than doubled this year when compared to deaths in 2017, figures show.

Seven motorcyclists died this year, compared to three in 2017. In contrast, the number of traffic fatalities this year decreased by one, to 18, compared to 2017.

The latest fatality occurred on Thursday when Nolan Farrugia, 21, died on the spot after the bike he was riding was involved in a collision with a truck in Luqa.

Read: Nasty truck and motorcycle collision leaves young man dead

Apart from the seven fatalities, there were 72 motorcycle accidents involving grievous injuries in the first nine months of 2018, National Statistics Office data show. A total of 306 accidents involving motorcycles occurred between January and September.

In contrast, of the 435 accidents involving cars over the same period, 44 resulted in individuals sustaining grievous injuries.

Data on the last quarter of this year has yet to be published. 

Motorcycles on the road increased significantly in recent years following measures by the government to promote their use in an attempt to address traffic congestion problems as the number of cars continued to increase.

According to the NSO, by the end of September there were 26,803 licenced motorbikes and 382,605 motor vehicles.