There were a reported 81,600 auto fatalities in 2007, the highest in the world says Wards Autoworld. This was a decline from a peak of 110,000 deaths in early 2002, said the publication.
In October 2007 Xinhua News quoted the Ministry of Public Safety:
"China reported 159,000 road accidents in the first six months, in which 37,000 people were killed and 189,000 were injured."
I agree Jenny that rail is still the safest. But it's only a matter of time before the general population adopts an automotive safety culture, that will bring those numbers way down.