BANGKOK, Dec 28— A total of 39 deaths and 399 injuries in 392 road accidents nationwide was recorded on Friday, the first day of the New Year holiday’s “seven dangerous days,” according to a senior transport official.
During a press briefing today, Chanchai Suwisuthakul, an inspector-general of the Transport Ministry, said that drunken driving is the major cause of accidents at about one in three – 30.36 per cent– followed by excessive speeding.
According to statistics recorded by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Dec 27, the first day of the seven-day campaign to cut road accidents, the highest number of accidents occurred in both Phitsanulok and Samut Sakhon with 20 accidents each.
Meanwhile, accident-free provinces were Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Nayok, Bung Kan, Phang-nga, Yosothon, Yala, Rayong, Loei, Sakhon Nakhon, Samut Prakan and Samut Songkhram.
Patum Thani, Prachin Buri and Surat Thani saw the highest number of fatalities, with three each.
Phitsanulok saw the most injuries, with 23 people.
