The number of traffic accidents in China during the country's weeklong lunar new year holiday declined by 57.6 percent compared with the same period of last year.

The Ministry of Public Security revealed on Saturday that road accidents killed more than 700 people and injured another 2,100 from Jan. 25 to 31, falling by 37.3 and 58.3 percent respectively.

The traffic police and transport authorities have conducted nationwide safety supervision on highways and main urban streets to crack down on threats to traffic safety.

(Xinhua News Agency February 1, 2009)