The number of traffic fatalities this year reached 5,000 as of Tuesday, marking the slowest pace since data first became available in 1970, and 33 days later than when the figure was reached last year, the National Police Agency said Wednesday.

Last year, traffic deaths did not exceed 6,000 for the first time in 54 years, the NPA said.

By prefecture, Aichi recorded the most deaths, at 262, followed by Saitama with 224, Hokkaido with 222, and Tokyo and Chiba with 210 each, according to the NPA.

Meanwhile, Tottori had the fewest fatalities, at 29, followed by Nagasaki with 39, Shimane and Tokushima with 40 each and Okinawa with 41.