Bangkalan, East Java (ANTARA News) - Police will evaluate the travel system during the holiday season due to a hike in the number of traffic accidents this season, National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said.

"We will conduct an evaluation after the Idul Fitri holiday is over so that next year`s travels can be organized in a better way and the number of accidents can be reduced maximally," he said here on Saturday.

On the whole. the flows of traffic during the Idul Fitri holiday this year have been smooth but the number of accidents were on a rising trend.

According to data from the National Police`s Directorate of Traffic and Road Transportation there had been a total of 2,998 traffic accidents from seven days before and until the fall of Idul Fitri on August 31.

A total of 490 people died in the accidents while 811 had been seriously wounded and 2,027 others lightly injured.

"The number is bigger than last year`s," he said.

During the period last year the number of accidents totaled 2,246 in which 539 died, 660 seriously wounded and 1,283 lightly injured.

General Timur Pradopo said although the number of accidents was higher this year the fatalities had dropped from 592 last year to only 490.

The National Police chief arrived at Lebinsen, Sukolilo Barat, aboard a helicopter to inspect traffic in the Suramadu bridge linking Surabaya and the island of Madura in East Java.

He was accompanied by East Java regional police Inspector General Hadiatmoko and other high-ranking officers. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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