The number of people killed in traffic accidents in the first six months of 2014 came to 1,925, down 79 from the same period a year earlier, with the number sinking below 2,000 for the first time since the first half of 2012, the National Police Agency revealed in a report on Thursday.

The number of fatalities among people aged 65 or over came to 994, down by 50, and accounted for more than half the overall fatalities, the agency said.

The total number of traffic accidents came to 277,591, with 342,656 people injured.

Among the nation's 47 prefectures, Aichi marked the largest traffic death toll at 98, followed by Kanagawa at 94 and Chiba at 81. Shimane saw the fewest fatalities at 10, followed by Tottori at 12.

The death toll from road accidents in 2013 totaled 4,373 — a decline for the 13th consecutive year.