The number of people killed in traffic accidents during this year's Spring Festival holiday dropped by 50 percent from last year, said the Ministry of Public Security on Friday.

The number of traffic accidents with people killed or injured also dropped by 41 percent from the previous year during this year's holiday, which ran from Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, said a ministry statement.

No accidents involving more than ten deaths were reported nationwide, the statement added.

The statement did not reveal the exact number of deaths reported.

The ministry attributed the reduction to the hard work of traffic police nationwide and effective cooperation with weather forecast agencies and other government departments.

More than 270,000 police officers and 240,000 community workers gave up their days off and worked very hard to ensure traffic safety, the statement said.

The Spring Festival, or lunar new year, is China's most important traditional holiday for family reunion. The holiday's drastic surge in travelers puts great pressure on the country's road, railway and air transportation systems.

The Ministry of Transport estimated that Chinese people will make 3.62 billion trips during this year's Spring Festival rush from Jan. 16 to Feb. 24, including 3.2 billion trips by road.