Chonburi Public
relations
Fewer people were killed, but a third more were hurt
in highway accidents during the New Year’s holiday period in Chonburi
Province, statistics show.
Eight people were killed in vehicle-related accidents
during the “seven dangerous days” between Dec. 29 and Jan. 4. That was
one fewer than during the same period the previous year.
The number of injured, however, increased by 23, with
Chonburi recording 98 people hurt in 102 accidents. All but five of
those accidents involved motorbikes.
Banglamung District tallied the most accidents with
35. The Pattaya-area was followed by Chonburi District, 23; Phanat Nikom,
13; Ban Bung and Panthong, 12; and Sattahip and Nong Yai, 3. Koh Chan
had just one accident while no accidents were reported in Sriracha, Koh
Sichang and Borthong.
Of the motorbike accidents, most mishaps occurred
between 4-8 p.m. and about 25 percent of the victims were in their 30s.
Chonburi Gov. Wichit Chatpaisit credited the lower
death toll to the 219 checkpoints set up on province roads. More than
40,000 vehicles were checked and 11,359 tickets issued and arrests made.
About 75 percent of those cited were men.
Most offenses recorded at the checkpoints were minor,
with more than half being for driving without a helmet or license.
Police did arrest 367 for drunk driving and issued tickets to 29 for
speeding, 1,363 for hazardous driving and 180 for talking on the phone
while driving.