BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Road traffic during the Spring Festival travel rush has remained safe and smooth so far, with fewer accidents and casualties reported than last year, said China's Ministry of Public Security on Sunday.

The death toll caused by road traffic accidents is 45 percent lower than the previous year, with the number of accidents down by 26 percent, according to the ministry.

The number of accidents that claimed at least three lives dropped 58 percent than the same period last year and those claiming five lives or more dropped 60 percent, the ministry said.

No accidents have caused deaths of over 10 people during the first two weeks of this year's festival travel rush, according to the ministry.

This year's Spring Festival travel rush lasts from Jan. 21 to March 1.