Road toll suddenly lower on sixth day

THE SO-CALLED “seven dangerous days” of the New Year holiday period saw a rise in deaths and injuries for five straight days. But now the Road Safety Centre has surprised the public – with a report yesterday that road casualties on the first six days were actually lower across-the-board than the same period last year.
This New Year’s first six days saw a total of 302 people killed and 2,843 others injured in 2,733 accidents – while the same period last year saw 334 deaths and 2,843 injuries from 2,891 accidents.
The northern province of Chiang Mai had the highest fatalities with 15 deaths, and the most people injured at 119, as well as the most accidents with 122 over the six days, PM’s Office Minister ML Panadda Diskul said.
Only four of Thailand’s 77 provinces – Trang, Narathiwat, Sing Buri and Nakhon Phanom – recorded no road accident deaths.
On Sunday, 42 people were killed and 301 injured in 287 accidents, Panadda reported. The major factors were drunk driving at 27.5 per cent; excessive speed 27 per cent; and one vehicle suddenly cutting in front of another at 25 per cent.
Most accidents involved motorcycles (79 per cent); with many occurring on a straight stretch of road (68 per cent); and a large number of these occurring between 4pm and 8pm in the evening (31 per cent), he said.
Officials at 2,266 main checkpoints arrested 89,257 traffic law violators – mostly for failing to wear helmets (24,662 cases) and failing to present a driver’s licence (24,586 cases).
Deputy permanent secretary of the Interior Ministry Maitree Inthusut said most holidaymakers had returned by yesterday. Many roads to Bangkok saw low traffic volume, which caused some motorists to drive at high speed.
The centre instructed all provinces to be strict with speeding drivers and check on public transport drivers’ sobriety.
Meanwhile, two thirds of this year’s victims died instantly due to speeding and recklessness, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation chief Chatchai Phromlert said. He urged motorists to observe the traffic laws.
Public Health Minister Rachata Rajatanavin said the 1669 hotline had received 6,924 calls from accident victims who sought help and were taken to hospital during the six-day period – and about half, or 3,385 of these people were still in hospital.
Disease Control Department chief Sopon Mekthon said the ministry’s checks on alcohol selling in 28 provinces since December 27 until yesterday had resulted in 306 people being fined – out of checks on 976 outlets selling booze. The most frequent offence was alcohol advertising/marketing – 167 cases – punishable for up to one year in prison and/or Bt500,000 in fines.
This year, 80 per cent of fines – except for the advertising charge – would be given to plaintiffs and arresting officers, in a bid to boost public participation to ensure safety from alcohol-induced harm, he said.