Slightly fewer traffic deaths in first half of 2005

In the first six months of 2005, the number of traffic deaths totalled 368, slightly fewer than the 384 persons who died in traffic accidents in the first six months of 2004. The figures refer to Dutch residents who died in road accidents in the Netherlands as well as abroad.

Traffic deaths, 2000-2005

Number of traffic deaths slightly down again

Traffic death toll in the first half of 2005 was marginally below the same period in 2004, but the number was significantly lower than in the first half of 2003, when no fewer than 517 persons died in traffic accidents.

Decrease persists in age brackets 20-30 and 80-90

The share of people in the age brackets 20-30 and 80-90 fell in the first half of 2005, compared to the first half of the previous year. The number of traffic deaths among people aged 50-60, but also among people in their thirties and forties, on the other hand, rose considerably. Nearly three-quarters of the 368 road deaths, reported in the first half of 2005, were men. Male traffic mortality rates have remained fairly stable over the years.

Traffic deaths by age

Decline still iffy for 2005 as a whole

In 2004 traffic-related mortality fell considerably compared to the previous year. The decline was mainly found in men and children. As yet it is uncertain, whether the number of traffic deaths over 2005 as a whole will be lower than the total traffic death toll over 2004. This partly depends on weather conditions prevailing in the autumn and winter of 2005.

Ingeborg Deerenberg