Fig. IV-14 shows the number of traffic accidents, together with the numbers of persons killed or injured in traffic accidents, since 1955. The numbers of traffic accidents and persons injured turned upward in1978,reaching record highs of850,363and1,050,397,respectively, in1999(see Appendix IV-6 ).

Fig. IV-14 Trends in Numbers of Traffic Accidents and Persons Killed or Injured in Traffic Accidents(1955-1999)

  Table IV-6 shows the number of persons cleared for traffic professional negligence over the last five years, by offense. In1999,755,651persons(up12.2%from the previous year)were cleared for bodily injury resulting from professional negligence, accounting for over98%of the total number of persons cleared.

Table IV-6 Number of Persons Cleared for Traffic Professional Negligence  (1995-1999)