Accidents Rise 13% on China Roads

Roughly 300 people died each day in traffic accidents in China last year, a jump of 13% from the year before, highlighting the country’s dismal road safety record, state television said Saturday.

Some 755,000 road wrecks killed 106,000 people last year, according to China Central Television, which quoted the Ministry of Public Security, the agency that oversees road safety.

The ministry blamed the rise on the growing number of roads and highways and an increase in traffic as China’s economy develops.

It said losses from last year’s accidents totaled about $37 million, representing a rise of 16%, but gave no figures for 2000.

Most accidents were the result of driver error, it said.

Unlicensed drivers, drunk driving, dangerous passing, overloading and speeding were the top causes of accidents.

The soaring death toll prompted the State Council in December to issue a law aimed at reinforcing safety measures and reducing road accidents.

The government also issued new driving guidelines last year including requirements that coach operators should drive in pairs, switching every three hours, and that drivers should not be on the road for more than eight hours over a 24-hour period.