A total of 251 people have been killed and 243 others injured in traffic accidents involving casualties of ten and above in China so far in 2006, sources with China's Ministry of Public Security said on Monday.

Liu Jinguo, vice minister of public security, said that a totalof 17 serious traffic accidents have been reported since January 1,2006, an increase of 21.4 percent from a year ago.

Liu attributed the rise of serious traffic accidents to lax training, examination and monitoring of drivers, unsound management on individual transport companies, as well as the lack of infrastructure including sign posts in accident-prone areas. Enditem