Germany's federal statistics office Destatis reported on Wednesday, that a total of 4,477 persons were killed in traffic accidents on Germany’s roads in 2008, which is fewer than in any year since 1950. Compared with the previous year, the number of people killed in road traffic accidents was down by 472 or 9.5%. At the same time, that figure is only about one fifth of the number of persons killed in traffic accidents in 1970, the most dramatic year in accident statistics, when 21,332 people died on Germany’s roads. A ban on alcohol introduced in August 2007 for new drivers has had a positive impact. meanwhile, Irish publicans are lobbying the Government's plan to lower the alcohol drink-drive limit.