A total of 19,515 road accidents in April left 5,082 people killed and 23,723 injured in China, the Ministry of Public Security said?Wednesday.

The figures dropped 16.1 percent, 10.9 percent and 12.3 percent respectively from the same period last year, the ministry said.

The ministry said the improvement was due to increased efforts to address problems like speeding, drowsy driving, drunk driving and overloading of passengers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2009)