BEIJING — China has seen the death rate in road-traffic accidents involving electric bikes, motorcycles and cars drop by over 10 percent year-on-year since the launch of a safety campaign last year, the Ministry of Public Security said on March 19.

For the first time since 2006, there has been a decline in the total number of deaths of electric-bike riders across the country, the ministry said.

Last year, the ministry launched a campaign requiring motorcycle and electric-bike riders to wear safety helmets, while motorists and passengers are now compelled to wear seat belts.

Starting on June 1, 2020, the riding of a motorcycle without a helmet is a punishable offense, as is driving or riding in a car without wearing a seat belt.