Motorists guilty of drug driving inch 7% higher

But drink driving cases dipped 7%.

According to a release, the number of traffic accident casualties remained stable in the first 10 months of the year, compared to the same period last year.

Announcing road safety figures for the period today, Chief Superintendent (Traffic Branch) Steve Verralls said there were 13,177 traffic accidents, up 3%, while there were 16,691 causalities, up 2%.

There were 2,180 accidents involving cyclists, up 13%. The number of cycling accident casualties was 2,054, up 14%. Many casualties were due to cyclists getting too close to each other, and wearing insufficient protective gear.

Mr Verralls said pedestrians remained the most vulnerable traffic accident group. Of the 97 people killed in accidents during the period, 58 were pedestrians, representing 60% of all fatalities.

There were 791 arrests for drink driving, down 7%.

Forty-six drivers were arrested for drug driving, up 7%. Of them, 31 were believed to have consumed ketamine.