CRI听力:Traffic Accidents Kill or Injure 200 Thousand in China

Experts taking part in a China Traffic Safety Forum are warning the safety situation on the roads in China is severe.

The group is suggesting the government and social organizations work together to improve safety awareness.

Wang Changjun, head of Traffic Management Research with the Ministry of Public Security, says there are three elements leading to increased danger on Chinese roads.

"Firstly, the volume of traffic accidents is reported about 4.7 million every year, which is very huge; secondly, the volume of casualties is more than 200 thousand, and about 21% of these people died, while in Japan, this proportion is about 0.54%. Thirdly, malignant accidents happened a lot."

One of the main concerns being raised at the forum is the rapid increase in traffic, which officials contend is affecting people's ability to properly concentrate on the road.

As of the end of last year, there were more than 240 million vehicles on the road.

More than 200 million people have a driver's license in China.

Meanwhile, the use of seatbelts is also a growing concern.

Feng Zhenglin is China's deputy Transport minister.

"By widely publicizing the importance of using seat belt and improving the ratio of seat belt installed and used, as well as to convert people's safety awareness into safety habit, we can effectively reduce the casualties of traffic accidents."

The latest stats show just over one-in-five people actually wear a seatbelt while in a vehicle.

It's believed the fatality ratio will be reduced by at least 10-percent if everyone buckle up while in a vehicle.

For CRI, I'm He Fei.