Traffic accidents killed 1,171 people during the seven-day National Day vacation, down 42.8 percent from the same time last year, said the Ministry of Public Security on Sunday.

By 18:00 PM Sunday, 3,635 traffic accidents had occurred nationwide since Monday, but this is 49.5 percent fewer than last year's figure, the ministry said in a press release.

Property losses concerning these accidents totaled 3.69 million yuan (US$490,000), 88.3 percent less than last year, the statement said.

All the accidents, except one, claimed less than 10 lives each.

Most expressways, national and provincial highways across the country functioned well. Few traffic jams were reported during the vacation.

According to previous estimates, more than 150 million Chinese were expected to go on tour during the week-long vacation from Monday to Sunday, nicknamed "Golden Week."

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2007)