City road accidents kill 91 and cost millions

By Jessie Dong  |   2008-6-19  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TRAFFIC police said 91 people were killed and 233 injured in road accidents last month with a direct loss of 31.03 million yuan (US$4.5 million).

The average rush-hour vehicle speed on elevated roads was about 22.2kph last month, close to that in April but breakdowns increased by about 3.7 percent.

Around some gas stations, there was congestion after the middle of last month because of cars and trucks queueing up for fuel during the supply shortage.

Traffic speeds at downtown Shanghai Railway Station, Zhongshan Park, the Bund, Xujiahui, People's Square and Yuyuan Garden, improved by about 17.9 percent with the average rush-hour speed reaching 16.3kph.

Police said 18 drivers have been detained for offering illegal taxi services on the square of Shanghai Railway Station so far this year.

The Zhabei District police have intensified a crackdown against cabbies and motorists who illegally stop to pick up passengers outside railway stations.

Usually drivers faced a 200-yuan penalty but police said the fines were not leading to any obvious improvement in the situation so they have started to impose stricter penalties.

Most of the 18 motorists and taxi drivers were detained for repeat offenses, police said. They would have to spend about 10 days in detention at police stations.

Traffic police said they have been looking for effective ways to improve traffic in this area, which "has always been a great headache."