The number of traffic accident-related deaths in South Korea hit a record-low level last year, government data showed Monday.

A total of 4,621 people were killed on the road in 2015, down 3 percent from 4,762 recorded a year earlier, according to data released by the National Police Agency.

The number of deaths per 10,000 cars also reached the lowest with 1.9.

The figure has been at a steady decrease from 59.4 in 1980 to 23.9 in 1990, 6.5 in 2000 and 2.6 in 2010.

The number of people killed in drunk-driving accidents slightly decreased from 592 in 2014 to 583 last year.

Among children who died in traffic accidents, 63 percent were killed while walking, the police agency said. As pedestrian deaths account for 38.8 percent of the total deaths related to traffic accidents, protection measures for young pedestrians are necessary.

The number of women who died in traffic accidents increased to 540, up 3.1 percent from a year earlier. Women who died in drunk-driving accidents also increased to 32 from 29 people in 2014, the data showed.

Police said despite a decrease in the number of deaths while biking, the number of total accidents is rising due to an increase in the number of people who enjoy leisure activities. (Yonhap)