死亡事故、過去最低を更新　コロナの外出自粛影響か―交通白書

　政府は１５日の閣議で、２０２１年版「交通安全白書」を決定した。２０年の交通事故による死亡者数は前年比３７６人減の２８３９人で、現行の統計を取り始めた１９４８年以降、過去最低を更新した。
　死亡者数は新型コロナウイルス感染が拡大した昨年４月以降、低水準で推移。同時期に自動車の走行距離が大幅に減少しており、内閣府担当者は「（外出自粛などの）影響があったのではないか」と分析している。
　交通事故件数と負傷者数も１６年連続で減少。一方、死亡者数に占める６５歳以上の高齢者の割合は５６．２％で、６６年以降最大となった。（2021/06/15-09:20）

The number of deaths caused by traffic accidents in Japan in 2020 fell by 376 from the previous year to 2,839, marking a record low since the current statistics began in 1948, a government report showed Tuesday.
   The number of traffic deaths has stayed at low levels since April 2020, when novel coronavirus infections began to spread in the country, according to the annual government white paper on traffic safety, adopted at the day's cabinet meeting.
   As automobile driving distances dropped sharply during the same period, the low death toll is likely to be a result of many people staying at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Cabinet Office official said.
   The total number of traffic accidents and that of people injured in traffic accidents both declined for the 16th straight year, the white paper said.
   Meanwhile, of the total traffic deaths, those of people aged 65 or older accounted for 56.2 pct, the highest since 1966.