Addis Ababa, April 11, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - Road accidents that occurred in Addis Ababa over the past nine months claimed the lives of 264 people, Addis Ababa City Traffic Department announced.Department Head, Deputy Commander Tewodros Bekele, in a press conference he gave on Friday said that close to 440 people sustained severe injuries due to the traffic accidents occurred during the reported period.
About 600 people have also sustained light injuries in the accidents, he added.
The accidents also incurred a property damage estimated over 22 million Birr, according to the head.
However, road accidents registered during the reported period have decreased to a certain level while compared with same period last year.
Deputy Commander Tewodros ascribe the decrease in the number of traffic accidents to efforts made to take strict measures against violators of traffic regulations.
More than quarter a million offenders of traffic regulations in the city were punished over the past nine months, he added.
The public have also been widely involved in the prevention of violations of traffic regulations, the head said.
The department has arrested 21 of the 29 drivers who were suspected of hit and run crime during night time over the past couple of months.
Deputy Commander Tewodros further said that the department has designed a strategic plan aimed at alleviating accidents by identifying 101 locations in the city that are highly exposed to road accident.
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