During the third quarter of 2022, road traffic accidents and casualties increased when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Road traffic fatalities amounted to six, the NSO said.

The number of reported traffic accidents during the third quarter of 2022 reached 4,062, up by 2.1 per cent over the same period in 2021. The Northern Harbour district registered the most accidents with 1,388 cases or 34.2 per cent of all accidents.

Road traffic casualties increased by 4.4 per cent to 449 over the same period in 2021, the NSO said. Grievously injured persons amounted to 116, and consisted of 61 drivers, 17 passengers and 38 pedestrians/ cyclists/others. The injuries suffered by one passenger and five pedestrians proved fatal.

During this quarter, four more fatalities occurred when compared to the same period in 2021. The majority of those grievously injured were males (71.6 per cent). Moreover, five of the fatalities that occurred during this quarter involved males while the other fatality involved a female. 34.7 per cent of the casualties involved persons in the 26 to 40 age bracket.