China reported 190,270 road accidents from January to June this year, killing 41,933 persons, injuring 221,838 others and causing direct economic losses of 710 million yuan (US$88.75 million).

The figures were released by an official from the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday at a press conference.

Wang Jinbiao, vice director of the traffic administration bureau of the ministry said the number of road accidents, the death toll, the number of injuries and direct economic losses caused by road accidents during the first six months of 2006 dropped by 14.3 percent, 7.9 percent, 4.4 percent and 24.7 percent from those of the same period last year, respectively.

He said overspeed, overloading and illegally driving on speed lanes remained the major reasons for road accidents, as 12,790 persons were killed in the road accidents caused by the three reasons during the period.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2006)