BANGKOK, Jan 3 (TNA) – During the New Year travel week from Dec 27 to Jan 2, there were 3,791 traffic accidents, 463 deaths and 3,892 injured people.
Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon announced the figures. He said the highest number of accidents, 118, was in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The biggest death toll, 25, was reported in Nakhon Ratchasima province and the highest number of injured people, 137, was recorded in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The most common cause of the accidents was drunk driving, resulting in 40.39% of the accidents, while speeding caused 28.30% of them. Motorcycles were involved in 76.94% of the accidents.
“The number of traffic accidents fell 2% from last year and the number of injured people dropped 3%. But the death toll was higher. The Road Safety Centre will find solutions. Measures can be intensified,” Mr Sutee said.
Meanwhile, Col Sirichan Ngathong, deputy spokesperson of the National Council for Peace and Order, said that during the New Year travel week, officials at checkpoints impounded 5,164 vehicles, including 3,859 motorcycles, from drunk drivers. Besides, 245,954 traffic law violators were prosecuted including 143,853 motorcyclists, she said. (TNA)
