A total of 41 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in Mongolia in the first five months of 2020, the traffic police department said Tuesday.

Most of the victims lost their lives in accidents in rural areas partly due to the fact that modern Mongolian herders prefer to ride motorcycles to look for livestock instead of riding horses.

Not wearing a helmet, speeding and drunk driving were the main causes of the motorcycle accidents, the department said, urging drivers to ensure their own safety and the safety of others when riding a motorcycle.

In 2019, around 480 motorcycle accidents occurred in the country, claiming more than 100 lives, according to the police department.