Deadly New Year Roads: 215 Deaths in Five Days

[Georgealbert]

 

 

Thailand’s roads have proven deadly once again during the New Year holiday season, with 215 lives lost just five days into the “10 Dangerous Days” road safety campaign, officials revealed today.

 

The statistics were announced by Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Public Health and head of the New Year Road Safety Command Centre, during a press briefing at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. From December 27 to 31, 2024, there were 1,398 road accidents, resulting in 1,354 injuries and 215 fatalities.

 

Motorcycles were involved in the majority of incidents, accounting for 89.93% of crashes. Speeding remained the leading cause (42.75%), followed by drink-driving (24.43%) and reckless overtaking (21.37%). Most incidents occurred on straight roads, with highways under the Department of Highways accounting for 40.84% of incidents, and local village roads for 30.92%.

 

The most dangerous times for road travel were identified as 00:01–01:00, 5:01–6:00 pm, and 18:01–19:00, accounting for 8.02% of incidents. The highest risk group for fatalities and injuries were individuals aged 20–29 years, representing 18.51% of the total.

 

On December 31 alone, 262 incidents were recorded, resulting in 245 injuries and 36 deaths. Chiang Rai reported the highest number of incidents (12) and fatalities (5) on that day, while Chiang Mai saw the highest number of injuries (11).

 

In total, Ayutthaya led with the highest cumulative number of incidents (44), Phuket recorded the most injuries (43), and Bangkok and Nonthaburi shared the highest death toll, each reporting 10 fatalities. However, 11 provinces reported no fatalities.

 

Minister Somsak warned that the risk remains high as millions begin their journeys home following New Year celebrations. Fatigue from insufficient rest after late-night festivities and ongoing celebrations in some areas has been flagged as a significant risk factor. Authorities have responded by setting up 1,781 main checkpoints manned by over 50,000 personnel nationwide to manage traffic, enforce road safety regulations, and reduce congestion.

 

With five days of the campaign remaining, the government continues to push its “Safe Driving, Accident-Free Thailand” initiative to foster a culture of road safety.

 

Related article:Day 4: DDPM Steps Up Road Safety for New Year Festivities: https://aseannow.com/topic/1347584-day-4-ddpm-steps-up-road-safety-for-new-year-festivities/

 

 

 

-- 2025-01-01

 

[Artisi]

It's ok, only 5 days to go after which the officials / law makers and law enforcers can bury their heads in the sand once again. 

[bkk6060]

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

[brewsterbudgen]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

 

If a reduction on previous years, I guess they can take some pride.

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

its about the yearly average.

[kickstart]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

Low? before, for both New year and the Songkran festival, for years the death total was 300, maybe up to,320, looks if this year will beat that.

As for the 50 000 personal managing traffic ......before they use to just sit and read the newspaper, now they sit and look at their mobile phones all the time, in-between, gossiping and eating, .....progress.

[ikke1959]

The numbers are not correct i think... it would mean that the last days almost no deaths were in the traffic accidents as yesterday there were already 175.... 

[connda]

43 a day?  Pretty much an average day on Thai roads.

[GammaGlobulin]

Nothing to fear but fear itself.

 

 

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

I was thinking that those figures were rather low too... 

[TheFishman1]

Their numbers are not accurate who believes their number is TIT

[Ralf001]

15 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Their numbers are not accurate who believes their number is TIT

 

so what are the "accurate" numbers then ?

[findlay13]

23 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

Their numbers are not accurate who believes their number is TIT

Well I have been told by a Khonkaen Tessaban , if you die at the accident scene you are a road death. Die in hospital or  in the ambulance  you are not.

[mikebell]

New Year holiday traffic accidents claimed 215 lives and injured 1,354 people across Thailand in five days from Dec 27 to 31.
 

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

the “10 Dangerous Days” road safety campaign,

Hang on - I always thought there were only SEVEN dangerous days at this time of the year?    This is cruelty to police, forcing them to stare at their phones for another three days.

[JoePai]

46 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

so what are the "accurate" numbers then ?

That's the problem - nobody knows, it's all guesswork

[rwill]

WHO estimates around 50 traffic fatalities in Thailand per day.

 

The holiday period is usually below this number.  Most likely due to freeways being so congested and speeds way lower.

[Sir Dude]

The number of deaths and accidents obviously gets most of the attention, but it always sounds just insane when they annouce that over, say a week, that something like 70k drivers couldn't produce a valid drivers license when stopped... guess a license is optional and just downright incoinvenient for many.

[traveller101]

From the article: "Phuket recorded the most injuries (43)"

Thai RSC (Thai Road Safety Collaboration Accident Information Center reported over the same period - wait for it -

509 injuries on Phukets roads

 

Numbers provided on the low side .... a major understatement.

 

[black tabby12345]

20 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

That number seems low.  They must be proud of their efforts.

 

Any Positive Change is "Improvement".