First Day of Thailand’s “10 Dangerous Days” Sees 52 Deaths and 318 Injuries

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture from responders of a Day 1 fatal crash.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported that the first day of Thailand’s “10 Dangerous Days” New Year road safety campaign recorded 52 fatalities and 318 injuries from 322 road crashes. Authorities are now intensifying safety measures on both major and minor roads to curb risky behaviours and ensure public safety during the holiday period.

 

Pol. Gen. Permpoon Chidchob, Minister of Education and chair of the National Road Safety Committee, announced the figures for 27 December, the campaign’s opening day, under the theme “Safe Driving – Thailand Without Accidents.” Key causes of crashes included speeding (39.44%) and sudden lane cutting (20.50%). Motorcycles were involved in 85.16% of crashes, with most incidents occurring on straight roads. The most vulnerable age group was 50–59, accounting for 15% of casualties.

 

Among provinces, Nakhon Si Thammarat saw the highest number of accidents (17 cases) and injuries (17 people), while Bangkok and Nakhon Si Thammarat reported the highest death tolls, with four fatalities each. Most accidents occurred between 16:01 and 17:00 and highways accounted for nearly half (47.83%) of all incidents.

 

Pol. Gen. Permpoon highlighted the government’s efforts to manage the high travel volume during the New Year period, especially from 27 December to 5 January, identified as the “10 Dangerous Days.” Provincial authorities have been instructed to intensify enforcement against risky driving behaviours, including speeding, drunk driving, and failure to wear helmets or seat belts.

 

Additional safety measures include increased police checkpoints, traffic monitoring, and public assistance points along major and secondary roads. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land Transport, has deployed 150 “Vocational and Transport Volunteer Assistance Centres” across the country to aid travellers.

 

Chesada Mosikarat, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, emphasised the need for heightened vigilance in accident-prone areas such as intersections, construction zones, and long straight roads where speeding is prevalent. Authorities are also urging compliance with traffic laws and promoting alternative routes to ease congestion on key highways.

 

Deputy Director-General of the DDPM, Saharat Wongsakulwiwat, noted that wet road conditions due to seasonal rains in the southern provinces, including Chumphon, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat, pose additional risks. Motorists are advised to exercise caution when travelling in these regions.

 

The DDPM continues to urge drivers to adhere to road safety regulations, remain courteous to other road users, and help make the holiday period safer for everyone.

 

Related articles:

 

Anutin Launches Road Safety Campaign for New Year Holidays:https://aseannow.com/topic/1347355-anutin-launches-road-safety-campaign-for-new-year-holidays/

 

Incident pictured above:https://aseannow.com/topic/1347350-fatal-collision-between-van-and-truck-in-chonburi-leaves-two-dead /

 

 

-- 2024-12-28

 

 

[JoePai]

That's one way to help out the car industries 

[MJCM]

It's busy already on the roads, Son of my wife, left Chonburi yesterday evening at 6pm and arrived in Buriram at 9am.

A trip that normally only takes 5-6 hrs took him 15 hrs.

[Tropicalevo]

Presumably, the method for the 'count' of fatalities is still the same as previous years.

ie only those dead at the roadside.

Deaths in the ambulance or at the hospital afterwards are not included. They are counted as accident injuries.

Sadly, the number of people who die in road accidents is higher than the published figures.

[redwood1]

6 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Presumably, the method for the 'count' of fatalities is still the same as previous years.

ie only those dead at the roadside.

Deaths in the ambulance or at the hospital afterwards are not included. They are counted as accident injuries.

Sadly, the number of people who die in road accidents is higher than the published figures.

 

It really should be up to 2-3 days after a accident to get the body count.....Plenty of people manage to stay alive for a 12-24-48 hours then die....

[MJCM]

40 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

It really should be up to 2-3 days after a accident to get the body count.....Plenty of people manage to stay alive for a 12-24-48 hours then die....

But then they will not be counted as traffic incident related. Remember TIT

[GammaGlobulin]

Why is this period of time so dangerous, I wonder.

 

Anyway, in order to partially mitigate risk to my life, I wear non-slip flipflops in the shower.

Just too many accidents do I read about, involving showering.

Therefore, I have taken steps to mitigate this risk.

 

Concerning driving on the roads.

One could either drive on the sidewalks, pavement, which might not be good.

Or, one could reduce speed and not imbibe, meaning do not ingest alcohol or other mind-bending substances.

 

I hope we all can stay safe this year, and the beginning of next year, too.

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

2 hours ago, MJCM said:

It's busy already on the roads, Son of my wife, left Chonburi yesterday evening at 6pm and arrived in Buriram at 9am.

A trip that normally only takes 5-6 hrs took him 15 hrs.

 

I plan to postpone my trips to the bank, until January 15th.

In fact, I will not leave my compound until that date.

Saves stress and wear-and-tear on the psyche, too.

 

[bkk6060]

I bet it will be record accidents and deaths.  And sorry,  it is not the police fault they are not driving the cars.  It is poor decisions(phones), speed, following too closely.  All made by people because they are uneducated, selfish,  and simply don't care.

[GammaGlobulin]

Obviously, if the gov is seriously interested in dramatically reducing injury on the local roads, then this can be done...in One Fell Swoop.

 

We just need to make it a law that all cars need to be equipped with these kinds of devices.....

 

 

The other question is:

 

How to retrofit detection devices on all vehicles on the local roads?

https://www.halt.org/anti-drunk-driving-devices-for-your-car

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ozz1]

Can you imagine if that many people were killed in a plane crash it would be all over the world news but it's just another day in Thailand so no one cares it's sad really

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Why is this period of time so dangerous, I wonder.

 

It's not, there's 365 dangerous days in most years, 366 this year due to it being a leap year.

 

[edwinchester]

On Christmas Eve we were waiting at a set of traffic lights and were rear ended by a pickup. The driver admitted to Police that he'd been working for two days straight, knew he was too tired to drive but did so anyway. He was fined 400 bht for careless driving.

A few weeks ago my wife was stopped by Police for not wearing a seatbelt. She was fined 500 bht.

[NorthernRyland]

21 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

On Christmas Eve we were waiting at a set of traffic lights and were rear ended by a pickup. The driver admitted to Police that he'd been working for two days straight, knew he was too tired to drive but did so anyway. He was fined 400 bht for careless driving.

 

 

what can you even say. Thai people so often have a total disregard for the safety of themselves and others. I just do not understand it.

[richard_smith237]

5 hours ago, ozz1 said:

Can you imagine if that many people were killed in a plane crash it would be all over the world news but it's just another day in Thailand so no one cares it's sad really

 

Based on 20,000 deaths per year the average is 54... 

 

52 is below the daily average !

[Geoffggi]

7 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Based on 20,000 deaths per year the average is 54... 

 

52 is below the daily average !

Come on Thailand you can do better than this ............

[mdr224]

Thai highways are like the real life version of that movie death race

[KhunBENQ]

15 hours ago, MJCM said:

It's busy already on the roads, Son of my wife, left Chonburi yesterday evening at 6pm and arrived in Buriram at 9am.

A trip that normally only takes 5-6 hrs took him 15 hrs.

Highway 1 and 2 up to the northeast yesterday about 11 AM:

(times are for some trip from Rayong)

[KhunBENQ]

17 minutes ago, mdr224 said:

Thai highways are like the real life version of that movie death race

Jams and gridlocks are life savers 

[georgegeorgia]

14 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

I plan to postpone my trips to the bank, until January 15th.

In fact, I will not leave my compound until that date.

Saves stress and wear-and-tear on the psyche, too.

 

So your in fear to leave just in case you get into a "accident" 

 

You could also have a heart attack or stroke 

[daveAustin]

If they look at any period there will be a similar amount of deaths. All this bs does is highlight a normality.  

[impulse]

With over 85% of the crashes being scooters and only 2.67% being sedans, any discussion of car safety seems rather moot.

 

[PJ71]

What's the existing record, are we in with a shot this year?

[PJ71]

Just now, impulse said:

With over 85% of the crashes being scooters and only 2.67% being sedans, any discussion of car safety seems rather moot.

 

Richard Smith will love getting into this, stand by for a massive rant...

[impulse]

33 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

34 minutes ago, impulse said:

With over 85% of the crashes being scooters and only 2.67% being sedans, any discussion of car safety seems rather moot.

Richard Smith will love getting into this, stand by for a massive rant...

 

I'm just saying, you can reduce your odds of dying (per km) by over 95% with a ton of steel and seat belts.

 

[Aussie999]

15 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I bet it will be record accidents and deaths.  And sorry,  it is not the police fault they are not driving the cars.  It is poor decisions(phones), speed, following too closely.  All made by people because they are uneducated, selfish,  and simply don't care.

Sorry, but if the police actually enforced the law every single day, it just might drive offences down, leading to less deaths/accidents/injuries/etc, this, along with enforced driving lessons, from qualified instructors.

[KannikaP]

 

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

under the theme “Safe Driving – Thailand Without Accidents.”

 

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

under the theme “Safe Driving – Thailand Without Accidents.”

Why do they name these initiatives in English? Most normal Thais will not understand what they mean!

[connda]

First day of "Mr and Mrs Connda Stay At Home For 10 Days."

[connda]

27 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

Sorry, but if the police actually enforced the law every single day, it just might drive offences down, leading to less deaths/accidents/injuries/etc, this, along with enforced driving lessons, from qualified instructors.

"Road Block Enforcement" doesn't do much in the way of decreasing offenses.  Thailand, like the West, needs uniformed patrol officers in patrol cars driving in traffic and pulling traffic offenders over and issuing traffic citations.

"But Thailand has BIB in patrol cars!"

Those are not "Patrol Cars."  They are the VIP escort motorcade lead-cars to chase the commoners off the road so that VIPs can pass by at 120 kpm without the "little people" in the way. Thai cops don't stop motorist for "moving violations" and they don't issue citations.

[impulse]

3 minutes ago, connda said:

"Road Block Enforcement" doesn't do much in the way of decreasing offenses.  Thailand, like the West, needs uniformed patrol officers in patrol cars driving in traffic and pulling traffic offenders over and issuing traffic citations.

 

To that, I would add that getting a traffic camera ticket in the mail just doesn't have the same impact as being pulled over on the spot.  Especially now, with the recent judge's ruling that they can't hold up a registration renewal for unpaid tickets.

 

I got really well practiced at avoiding the cops and $$$ tickets when I first started driving and I couldn't afford the fines.  Not coincidentally, those same skills helped me avoid accidents.  I was a lot more afraid of the cops than of dying in a flaming wreck, just as a matter of percentages and being young and bulletproof.