Danger alert over Phuket's accident rate

BANGKOK: -- More than one person dies every week on the roads of the sprawling resort island of Phuket - which has almost four times more road accidents than the national average across Thailand.

From January to May, the police recorded 45 deaths and 707 injuries in Phuket road accidents.

They blame the high rate of accidents on rash and undisciplined driving, the island's winding, undulating roads and increasingly crowded and chaotic urban areas.

More than half of all accidents involve foreigners. Phuket receives more than 2.7 million tourists a year and car and bike rental is a thriving but unorganised business.

The owner of one rental outlet on Patong beach, who gave his name as Adisai but whose set-up does not have a name, told The Straits Times that at least 10 of his motorcycles a year were damaged in road accidents.

Traffic police officer Sutham Rattanasawangwong said most accidents involved motorbikes.

'There are two problems. First it is the drivers themselves,' he said.

'They have no discipline. They drive too fast and they are careless and they rarely follow rules.

'The second problem is that road conditions are not appropriate. For example, the curves are very sharp and the terrain is hilly. And when it rains, people skid.'

Last year, there were 2,140 road accidents in Phuket killing 137 people; the previous year the death toll was 107 from 1,746 accidents.

Phuket police could not confirm how many of the dead were foreigners.

On average, 3,500 new vehicles hit the road each year in Phuket.

There are now around 220,000 vehicles on the island, of which about 170,000 are motorbikes, according to reports.

But Phuket, with a resident population of around 300,000 plus a migrant population of close to 100,000 largely catering to the vast tourism industry, has around 100 traffic officers only.

A recent crackdown campaign resulted in a 200-per-cent jump in arrests for traffic offences - but the problem is how to sustain the drive without adequate police manpower.

The rate of development and poor urban policy and planning would eventually make a modern rapid transit system essential if Phuket were to remain a safe and pleasant destination, police officials said.

--The Straits Times 2004-06-11

One person a week? Is that all.

I thought the report said it was a serious problem

One person a week? Is that all.

I thought the report said it was a serious problem

Last year, there were 2,140 road accidents in Phuket killing 137 people; the previous year the death toll was 107 from 1,746 accidents.

Then the report went on to say the above (137 killed last year)

A proof reading course would be a good subject for some of the Rajhabhat schools to offer. (there is plenty of room for improvement in the newspapers of the realm)

I would be surprised if only 137 were killed in any event.

Danger alert over Phuket's accident rate

BANGKOK: -- More than one person dies every week on the roads of the sprawling resort island of Phuket - which has almost four times more road accidents than the national average across Thailand.

From January to May, the police recorded 45 deaths and 707 injuries in Phuket road accidents.

Taken together Phuket, Pattaya and Samui the total number of tourists killed in bike accidents since they started renting bikes must be many 1000s of dead farangs .

i would estimate around 5000 ...

And they worry about the unrest in the south? Or bird flu?