Ten people were killed and 22 injured in road accidents in Chonburi during the New Year’s travel season with a total 20 reported accidents.
Provincial officials said Jan. 6 that nine men and one woman were killed on roads and highways during the “seven dangerous days” of Dec. 30-Jan. 5.
Nationally, road fatalities fell 7 percent from a year ago, with 341 killed, 3,117 injured in 2,997 accidents. Injuries fell 6.7 percent, while the number of accidents fell by 5.5 percent.
Officials man the tally board (background) of this year’s road carnage in Chonburi during the “seven dangerous days” of Dec. 30-Jan. 5.
Chonburi Gov. Komsan Ekachai had ordered the setting up of 27 road-safety operation centers and 52 service centers in 11 districts of Chonburi. They were staffed by more than 1,000 officers and volunteers.
The Vocational Education Department also set up six auto-repair and service centers to provide auto checkups and repair services during the holidays.
Police and provincial checkpoints this year examined 88,664 vehicles, 8,000 more than last year. Of those, 36,170 were motorcycles, 23,155 were pickup trucks, 14,485 cars and taxis, 6,894 vans, 3,620 four-wheel or greater buses, 2,829 six-wheel-plus buses, and 1,511 other types of vehicles.
Police cited 29,593 cases violating the 10 road-accident prevention measures.
Driving a motorbike without a helmet was cited 7,771 times, drunk driving 909 times, no driver’s license 7,396 times, speeding 2,336 times, driving the wrong way 1,133 times and driving while talking on the phone 974 times.
Tickets also were written for poorly conditioned motorbikes, no seatbelt use, jumping traffic lights and dangerous overtaking.
During the seven days, 157,960 people took boats in the province, 58,718 of which departed Bali Hai Pier and 62,228 at Koh Larn.
