In the third quarter this year, the number of reported traffic accidents reached 4,211, an increase of 198 cases or 4.9 per cent over the same quarter last year.

The highest increase in such accidents was registered in the Northern Harbour district, up by 140 cases or 9.5 per cent.

In the period under review, 342 traffic casualties were reported. Of these, 187 drivers sustained injuries: 151 suffered slight injuries and 36 suffered grievous ones. During the same period, 118 other persons – 89 passengers and 29 pedestrians – suffered slight injuries while 33 – 17 passengers and 16 pedestrians – suffered grievous ones.

In this period, there were four fatalities - one driver and three pedestrians. On a gender basis, slightly injured persons in the third quarter of 2007 numbered 269: 151 males and 118 females. The number of grievously injured persons came up to 69, the majority being males. The four fatalities in this quarter comprised three males and one female. The largest number of male casualties was in the 25-39 age group, while the majority of female ones were in the 15-24 age group.

72.5 per cent of casualties were caused by passenger cars while 17.5 per cent were caused by motorcycles. Nearly half of all traffic casualties occurred in weekends, between Friday and Sunday.

In the period under review, St. Paul’s Bay was the locality with the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 246 cases. Qormi and Marsa followed closely, with 230 and 229 reported accidents respectively