The number of people killed in road accidents over China's National Day holiday was down by more than a fifth from the same period last year, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Friday.

The eight-day period from October 1 saw 1,320 people killed on China's roads, down 21 percent, according to a report published on the ministry's website.

About 5,000 people were injured in road accidents, down 17 percent year on year, and 4,330 accidents were reported nationwide, a drop of 15 percent.

The fall in accident numbers followed a nationwide crackdown on traffic violations -- focusing on speeding, fatigue and drink-driving, and overloading -- launched in July, the report said.

The campaign was aimed to curb traffic violations ahead of and during celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.

Losses from road accidents over the holiday period were estimated at 15 million yuan (US$2.2 million), a 19.9 percent drop year on year.

In another security drive, police checked close to 3.3 million vehicles on the approaches to Beijing.

Close to 44,000 vehicles and 54,000 people were "persuaded by the police to turn back because their licenses did not qualify for entrance to Beijing," the report said, without giving further details.

In a separate report on its website Friday, the MPS said nine people were killed and seven were injured in fire accidents from October 1 to 8.

The estimated losses from the fire accidents amounted to more than 17 million yuan (US$2.5 million), it said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2009)