YANGON -- A total of 116 people have been killed, 863 injured in traffic accidents on Myanmar's Yangon-Mandalay highway in 2017, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Tuesday.

A total of 555 traffic accidents cases occurred on the country's busiest highway last year, due to the reckless, drowsy driving, road slip, over speeding and other reasons,

There were 744 traffic accidents killing 170 people with 1,304 others injured in 2016.

Aiming to enhance better traffic safety along the highway, Myanmar has increased the number of road safety police, opening 16 police stations along the road since 2012.

The authorities has been repairing the damaged parts of the highway to enhance road conditions.

The 587 kilometer-long highway, connecting the country's commercial city Yangon and the second largest city Mandalay was opened to reduce the travel time between the two cities in December 2010.