43 people killed, 466 injured on first of seven dangerous travel days

[misskit]

43 people were killed and 466 injured in 464 road accidents, mostly blamed on drink driving, on the first day of Thailand’s “seven dangerous days” of New Year holiday travel on Friday, according to the Department for Prevention and Mitigation of Public Disasters.


Drink driving was a factor in 30.39% of the road accidents, followed by speeding in 24.78%.
80.08% of the accidents involved motorcycles, 39.22% occurred on highways under the supervision of the Highways Department and 30.60% occurred on secondary roads supervised by tambon administration organizations and villages.


30.39% of the accidents took place between 4pm and 8pm and 29.27% of the casualties were people over the age of 50.


A total of 731,933 vehicles were stopped for checks and 158,453 people were charged for traffic violations, including 42,912 cases of riding without crash helmets and 39,584 cases for having no driving license.


The southern province of Surat Thani had the highest accident rate, with 20 accidents and provinces with highest fatality rate for the day (4 deaths) were Chiang Rai and Prachuap Khiri Khan, while Surat Thani had the highest rate of injuries at 22.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/43-peop...s-travel-days/

[jabir]

Cause for celebration here if they can keep it down to 43/day during the 7 deadlies, against 45/day normal; maybe smuggle every 4th body from the scene, to improve the count and lose less face.

[misskit]

Road death toll jumps to 109 in first two days of safe driving campaign

Authorities have been instructed to tighten up traffic controls in high risk areas as the death toll for the first two days of the seven-day dangerous travel period over the New Year holidays increased from 43 to 109 and the number of injured rose by 527 to 993.


Road accidents during that 48 hours were recorded at 974, with the southern province of Surat Thani topping the list with 33 incidents and 37 people injured. Chiang Rai and Nakhon Sawan had the highest death toll at 6 each.


Drink driving has been a factor in 35.49% of the accidents and motorcycles have been blamed for 74.57%. 65.1% of the accidents occurred on Highway Department’s roads and 30.98% on secondary roads under the jurisdiction of tambon administration organizations and villages.


26.47% of the accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm and 26.98% of the casualties were aged over 50.


877,714 vehicles were stopped for checks across the country, 194,549 people were charged with traffic violations, including 53,072 cases of not wearing crash helmets and 48,249 cases of driving with licenses.


Mr. Anont Luangboriboon, chief of the centre tasked with reducing road accidents and deputy permanent secretary of transport, said today (Sunday) that most New Year revellers have already reached their destinations.


He said that officials have been instructed to tighten checks at areas susceptible to accidents, such as railway crossings, intersections, short cuts as well as roadside parking in preparation for the mass return to Bangkok at the end of the holiday.



https://www.thaipbsworld.com/road-de...ving-campaign/

[misskit]

Officials eye stores selling alcohol to those under-age in bid to reduce drink driving

Authorities are targeting retailers and convenience stores which sell alcohol to those under age with the threat of legal action, as the death toll for the first three days of the seven-day dangerous New Year travel period climbed to 159 on Sunday.


Blaming drunk driving for a majority of the road accidents, mostly involving motorcycles, Pol Lt-Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapat, assistant national police chief and spokesman of the Centre to Prevent and Reduce Road Accidents during the New Year’s Festival, said today that many of the drunk drivers involved in accidents were under 20, prompting the centre to order officials to tighten up on the sale of alcohol to youths and to take legal action against violators.


He also said officials have been told to enforce the use of safety belts in all cars and the wearing of crash helmets by those on motorcycles.


According to the centre, 47 people were killed and 560 others injured in 531 road accidents on Sunday. 31.83% of the accidents were blamed on drunk driving and 30.89% on speeding. Motorcycles were involved in 80.55% of the accidents.


Over the past three days, a total of 216,804 traffic violators have been charged, including 58,550 cases of failing to wear crash helmets and 52,434 cases of driving without a license.


Bangkok had the highest death toll in three days with 10, including five fatalities on Sunday. The northern province of Lampang has the highest number of accidents at 48. No deaths were reported in 21 provinces.


Interior deputy permanent secretary Pornpote Penpat noted that more accidents took place on secondary roads because there were New Year celebrations being held in rural communities.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/officia...drink-driving/