Forty five car accidents occurred on Yangon-Mandalay Expressway during October, killing 28 people and injuring 108 others which is the heaviest number of casualties in the past 10 months of this year, according to data from Nay Pyi Taw expressway police office.

"In October, 45 car accidents happened. The accidents killed 28—17 males and 11 females—and injured 108. Most cases were car crashes. Some were caused by drowsiness. In the accident in which a monk was killed, the driver drove very carelessly," said an official from the police office.

In a car crash with heaviest casualties on October 1, a passenger bus crashed into the back of another near milepost 229, killing 15 and injuring about 40. Moreover, a famous Buddhist monk and a retired rector were also killed in car accidents last month.

From January to October this year, 386 road accidents happened in which 92 people were killed and 737 injured. On average, at least 36 accidents happened and at least nine people were killed in one month.

To reduce traffic accidents along the Expressway, authorities are taking measures such as monitoring speeding, seat belt fastening and alcohol testing.

From September 1, 2016 to November 1, 2018, 36,733 vehicles faced actions for speeding. From June 1, 2017 to November 1, 2018, 5,648 vehicles faced actions for not fastening seat belts.