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155991
Wed, 01/05/2011 - 15:25
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Thai New Year road accidents dropped but the death toll rose
BANGKOK, Jan 5 (TNA) - During the 7-day New Year travel period, the number of road accidents and injuries in Thailand dropped, but the death toll rose.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads the government’s road safety centre, announced statistics on road accidents during the New Year travel spree from Dec 29 to January 4.
Suthep said the death toll grew from last year’s figure. During this New Year, there were 3,497 road accidents, down 37 from last year. There were 3,750 injured people, down by 77, but 358 people were killed, up by 11 from last year’s death toll.
The highest number of deaths by province was 13 in Lop Buri, followed by 12 in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The highest number of road accidents by province was 122 accidents each in Phitsanulok and Chiang Rai. The provinces free of road fatalities are Loei and Trat.
The top cause of accidents was drunk driving, followed by speeding. The risky behavior leading to highest number of severe injuries and deaths, was failure to wear crash helmets, with most accidents involving motorcycles.
Suthep said the cabinet resolved Tuesday (Jan 4) to campaign for the strict use of crash helmets this year as proposed by his road safety center. The campaign is aimed at reducing losses and raising public awareness on road safety. The government has announced the period from 2011 to 2020 as a decade of road safety. (TNA)
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads the government’s road safety centre, announced statistics on road accidents during the New Year travel spree from Dec 29 to January 4.
Suthep said the death toll grew from last year’s figure. During this New Year, there were 3,497 road accidents, down 37 from last year. There were 3,750 injured people, down by 77, but 358 people were killed, up by 11 from last year’s death toll.
The highest number of deaths by province was 13 in Lop Buri, followed by 12 in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The highest number of road accidents by province was 122 accidents each in Phitsanulok and Chiang Rai. The provinces free of road fatalities are Loei and Trat.
The top cause of accidents was drunk driving, followed by speeding. The risky behavior leading to highest number of severe injuries and deaths, was failure to wear crash helmets, with most accidents involving motorcycles.
Suthep said the cabinet resolved Tuesday (Jan 4) to campaign for the strict use of crash helmets this year as proposed by his road safety center. The campaign is aimed at reducing losses and raising public awareness on road safety. The government has announced the period from 2011 to 2020 as a decade of road safety. (TNA)
