Road accidents during lunar New Year decline

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-04 22:40

BEIJING -- 1,653 road accidents were reported during the lunar New Year holiday from January 25 to January 31, down by 57.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Public Security Wednesday.

Cars are stuck in traffic with the traffic lights not working, on a road in Changsha, Hunan province January 11, 2009. China saw 1,653 road accidents during the lunar New Year holiday from January 25 to January 31, reduced by 57.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Public Security Wednesday. [Agencies]

The accidents resulted in 724 fatalities, a drop of 37.3 percent year-on-year.

A spokesman with the ministry said following the country's intensified efforts in regulating the road transport system, road accidents decreased considerably.

Statistics from the ministry show that, accidents involving overloaded passenger buses during the lunar New Year travel rush dropped by 88 percent. The precise figure was not given.

During traffic peak seasons in China, many drivers and bus companies dared to violate regulations to load more passengers than the buses should to earn more money for each run. And passengers who were eager to get home were willing to squeeze themselves into the already full buses with no comfortable spaces even to stand.

In January, 18,000 road accidents occurred, killing some 5,700 people, respectively 18 percent and 4 percent less year-on-year.