There were six fatalities in the third quarter of 2008, four males and two females. In the third quarter this year, the number of reported traffic accidents reached 3,798, a decrease of 413 cases over the corresponding period in 2007. All districts except Gozo and Comino registered decreases in traffic accidents. The Northern Harbour district registered the highest number of accidents – 1,407 cases, or 37.0 per cent of the total. Four of the six fatalities in the third quarter occurred in the Northern Harbour district.

In the period under review, 328 traffic casualties were reported. Of these, 192 drivers sustained injuries: 151 suffered slight injuries, 38 suffered grievous ones, while the injuries sustained by three drivers proved fatal. During the same period, 105 other persons – 75 passengers and 30 pedestrians – suffered slight injuries, while 28 – 15 passengers and 13 pedestrians – suffered grievous ones. One passenger and two pedestrians were the three other traffic fatalities in the period under review.

On a gender basis, slightly-injured persons in the third quarter of 2008 numbered 256: 144 males and 112 females. Grievously-injured persons came up to 66, the majority being males. The six fatalities in this quarter were four males and two females. The largest number of casualties was in the 25-39 age group.

76.2 per cent of casualties were caused by passenger cars while 13.1 per cent were caused by motorcycles. As regards single days, the highest rate of traffic casualties was recorded on Sundays, with 16.8 per cent of the total. Nearly 50 per cent of all traffic casualties occurred during weekends, between Friday and Sunday.

In the period under review, Birkirkara was the locality with the highest rate of traffic accidents, with 208 cases. Qormi and San Pawl il-Bahar came close, with 204 and 202 reported accidents respectively.