Birkirkara registers highest rate of traffic accidents

There were three traffic fatalities in the first quarter this year. In the first quarter, the number of reported traffic accidents reached 3,401, a decrease of 8.5 per cent over the corresponding quarter last year. Decreases were recorded in most districts, with the Southern Harbour registering the highest decrease. On the other hand, the Western district registered an increase (3.9 per cent) in traffic accidents.

In the period under review, 366 traffic casualties were reported, of which 222 involved drivers.

The injuries suffered by 184 drivers were slight, 35 were reported as grievous, while those suffered by three drivers proved fatal. During this period, 31 other persons (nine passengers and 22 pedestrians) suffered grievous injuries, while 113 (75 passengers and 38 pedestrians) were slightly injured (see Tables 4-6).

On a gender basis, slightly-injured persons in the first quarter totalled 297: 150 males and 147 females. Grievously-injured persons totalled 66, the majority being males. The three fatalities in the quarter under review were males. The majority of casualties were in the 26-40 age group.

74.9 per cent of traffic casualties were caused by passenger cars, followed by motorcycles at 18.6 per cent, and 4.6 per cent by goods-carrying vehicles.

In the first quarter, the highest traffic casualty rate occurred on Sundays, accounting for 20.8 per cent of the total. The highest accident rate was recorded on Thursdays, totaling 540 cases, and the lowest on Sundays, with 381 cases. Sundays topped the highest casualty-to-accidents ratio.

The daily time bracket in which most accidents occur is between 12:00 and 14:59, with 713 cases, or 21.0 per cent of the total. This is closely followed by the 15:00-17:59 time bracket, with 705 cases. As expected, the least number of accidents occurring daily took place between 03:00 and 05:59 (85 cases). However, almost 75 per cent of accidents occurring in this time bracket took place on Saturdays and Sundays.

In the period under review, Birkirkara registered the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 223 cases. Hal Qormi and Marsa were next, with 204 and 150 reported accidents respectively.