Thailand’s death toll from road accidents nationwide
during the 2012 New Year’s celebration week has risen to 335, but still
below that of last year’s 358 fatalities, while the number of injuries
reached 3,345 persons on the last day of the “seven high risk travel
days.”
Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Yongyuth
Vichaidit said in his capacity as director of the road safety
administrative center that as of Wednesday, the last day of the
government’s “Seven High Risk Travel Days” campaign, 335 deaths had been
reported, a 6.42 percent decrease from last year’s statistics.
The injured were recorded at 3,375 persons, a 10
percent drop from last year while the total number of accidents amounted
to 3,093 cases, 11.55 percent less than last year.
Yongyuth said Chiang Rai recorded the highest number
of accidents at 115 incidents, while Nakhon Sawan and Buriram had the
highest death toll at 18 persons each.
Ten provinces, however, recorded no deaths from road
accidents: Sukhothai, Tak, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Si Sa Ket, Nonthaburi,
Trat, Satun, Yala and Pattani.
The causes of road accidents were contributed to
drunken driving and speeding. Most accidents involved motorcycles and
pickup trucks between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Most of the dead and injured were of working age.
The interior minister said the number of casualties
has dropped from last year but the number of major accidents is likely
to rise due to speeding, fatigue of drivers, riding without a helmet and
passengers not fastening seat belts or sitting in the open rear of
pick-up trucks.
Yongyuth said he would ask concerned agencies to come
up with measures to efficiently enforce the traffic law on drunk
driving, the use of helmets and speeding.
The government launched its “Seven High Risk Travel
Days” campaign from Dec 29-Jan 4 in a bid to reduce road accidents over
the long holiday. The campaign is aimed at cutting casualties among New
Year revelers. (MCOT)
