Altogether 440 people were killed in road accidents in Beijing up to May 25 this year, a decrease of11.3 percent from the same period, said sources from the municipal traffic management bureau.

Of the total, 266 deaths were from road accidents happening in the city's outlying suburban areas, accounting for 60.5 percent of the total and a decrease of 23 deaths compared with the figure a year ago, said the sources.

An official from the bureau failed to explain reasons behind the decrease in deaths from road accidents, but pledged to tighten law enforcement efforts in the future to reduce road accidents.

According to the official, severe punishments will be meted out to law breakers under four circumstances, including drink-driving, driving without licenses and ignoring red lights.
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(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2007)