The monthly average number of traffic accidents involving drivers disobeying traffic signals fell 25% to 21 in the first 11 months of this year, the Transport Department says.

The number of people injured in these accidents also dropped 30% from the monthly average of 51 last year to 36 this year.

The department attributed the falls to the introduction of increased penalties this year.

Although the number of red light cameras has more than trebled from 28 in 2005 to 96 in 2006, the monthly average number of prosecutions against red light jumping by using cameras specifically was 2,937, up 8% on 2005.

The figures show that the increase in penalties has a deterrent effect against red light jumping.