New Year road accidents, deaths down on last year
A TOTAL OF 284 PEOPLE were killed and 2,307 injured in 2,288 traffic accidents across the country during the so-called “seven dangerous days” of the New Year holiday, a decrease from the same period last year.
Chotenarin Kerdsom, deputy permanent secretary for interior, last Friday (Jan 5) released the figures of road accidents, deaths and injuries between Dec 29 and Jan 4.
During this period, 2,288 road accidents occurred nationwide, resulting in 284 fatalities and 2,307 injuries.
Total deaths, injuries and accidents were down on the same period last year which saw 317 deaths and 2,437 injuries in 2,440 road accidents.
These figures reflect a decline compared to the previous year, which saw 317 deaths and 2,437 injuries in 2,440 road accidents.
On Jan 4 alone, 17 fatalities and 205 injuries were reported in 200 road accidents, said Mr Chotenarin.
Kanchanaburi province had the most cumulative road accidents at 82 and also reported the highest number of injured people at 89. Bangkok saw the most fatalities, totalling 19.
Eleven provinces – Krabi, Kalasin, Chai Nat, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Pattani, Phichit, Mae Hong Son, Satun, Samut Songkhram and Amnat Charoen – reported zero road fatalities.
Speeding remained the major cause of road accidents, accounting for 48.5%, followed by drivers cutting in front of other motorists at 22% and poor visibility at 14%.
In addition, 88.72% of all accidents involved motorcycles, with 85% occurring on straight roads, 42.5% on highways and 30.5% on village roads.