China saw 32,225 road accidents in 50 days ending on Aug. 24, after the police launched a nationwide crackdown on traffic violations on July 4, a year-on-year drop of 12.4 percent, according to the Ministry of Public Security Thursday.

These accidents resulted in 8,743 fatalities and 38,608 injuries, a drop of 10.4 percent and 12.5 percent respectively year on year, the ministry said in a report on its website.

Losses from these accidents were estimated at 130 million yuan (19 million U.S. dollars), dropping 20.7 percent from the same period last year.

The nationwide crackdown aimed to curb traffic violations ahead of the 60th founding anniversary of New China on Oct. 1, with a focus on speeding, fatigue and drink driving, and overloading.

Following the intensified efforts to regulate the traffic transport system, the crackdown has significantly reduced serious traffic accident cases, the report said.

There were two serious accidents in which more than 10 people were killed during the period, four cases less year on year, it said.

The two cases, in eastern Shandong and Anhui provinces, saw 11 people die in each.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2009)