Traffic accidents increased in January to May 2011 in Turkey

Although the number of traffic accidents increased in the first five months of 2011, fatality figures saw a drop compared to years past, according to traffic data compiled by the Anatolia news agency.

 A total of 1,148 people died in traffic accidents on highways in the first five months of 2011, while 1,260 people were killed in the first five months of 2010.

The January-May period of 2011 recorded 116,107 traffic accidents in the country, up from 112,150 in the same period of 2010.

Fewer drivers were fined in the first five months of 2011 than in 2010, when more than 3.9 million drivers received fines. That number dropped by 200,000 to around 3.7 million drivers in 2011.

Compared to 2010, fewer pedestrians and drivers were fined in the first five months of 2011, when fines for pedestrians decreased by 43.5 percent. In the same period, fines for drivers decreased by 6.1 percent.

Fewer die in traffic accidents in May 2011

In May 2011, the number of fatalities in traffic accidents on highways decreased. Last year, 314 people were killed in 24,816 accidents. The number of accidents increased in 2011 to 25,633, but the number of deaths fell to 299.

Also in May 2011, 428,636 people attended traffic education courses.

Police officials released statistics for traffic accidents on highways in May but have not yet released the equivalent information for June and July of this year. However, based on the reported number of traffic accidents in June and in July thus far, the number of fatalities seems to be increasing as the summer progresses.

Motorcycle accident in Edirne kills 1, injures 2

One person died and two others were injured in an accident involving two motorcycles in Edirne province. Hasan Hüseyin Durak (26) was riding near the village of Barağı when he was thrown off his motorcycle. Serpil Durak, who was riding with her husband, was also thrown off the bike and died.

Riding behind them, Ramazan Uydacı was distracted by Durak's crash and drove off the road. Uydacı and Durak were seriously injured and taken to a hospital, where they remain in critical condition.


/World Bulletin/