Many people underestimate the caution needed on the roads.
A total of 14,714 traffic accidents were recorded last year. That is, an average of 40 accidents a day. This was an increase of five per cent over 1998.
As one accident may involve more than one vehicle or more than one casualty, a total of some 22,300 vehicles and 19,400 injured were involved in the accidents in 1999.
While 80 per cent of cases were slight-injury accidents, 2,808 cases (19 per cent) were serious-injury accidents, involving 3,116 casualties. A 'seriously injured person' is one who has been detained in hospital for more than 12 hours.
The remaining 202 cases, one per cent, were fatal accidents which led to deaths within 30 days. A total of 217 people were killed in fatal accidents last year.
Pedestrian crossings and road junctions were the most common accident black spots. Over 80 per cent occurred at or in the vicinity of pedestrian crossings and road junctions.
Among the vehicles involved in accidents last year, nearly one-third were private cars; 20 per cent, goods vehicles; 14 per cent, taxis; and 12 per cent, motorcycles.
