72 people have died on Balearic roads

PALMA
A total of 72 people have lost their lives on Balearic roads so far this year, 12 more than during the same period last year and another 35 people were injured, according to figures issued by the Provincial Traffic Department.

Twenty-one of the 72 people killed were less than 30 years old, which is a decrease in comparison with 2006, when 23 of those killed were less than 30.
The majority of those killed were men (61), and just 11 women. The figures also say that 49 were drivers and eight were passengers, and 37 of them were wearing a seat belt or a crash helmet.

Six were cyclists and nine pedestrians, and 22 were foreigners, 11 of them from countries outside the European Union.
Some 21 of the vehicles involved were more than 10 years old, 10 were rented cars, 11 motorbikes and five mopeds. Most of the accidents happened during the day (39) and 28 happened at night.

So far this month six people have lost their lives on Balearic roads, three more than during the same period last year.
Road deaths on Balearic roads fell during the months of January (two less), March (one less), and April with two less. However, the road toll increased in February with eight more deaths and in May with one more, while in June and July there was no change.

From 1996 to 2006, 1'396 people have died in traffic accidents on the islands, 1'052 of them on Majorca, 234 on Ibiza and Formentera and 110 on Minorca.