Day 8: New Year Holiday Road Death Toll Rises to 363

[Georgealbert]

 

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has reported a grim update on road safety during Thailand’s “10 Dangerous Days” of the New Year holiday period. Over the past eight days, there have been 363 fatalities and 2,090 injuries from 2,149 road crashes. Bangkok recorded the highest number of deaths, with reckless driving and speeding as the primary causes.

 

On 4 January, DDPM Deputy Director-General Saharat Wongsakulwiwat presented the statistics for 3 January, the eighth day of the safety campaign. A total of 205 crashes were reported on the day, resulting in 199 injuries and 32 fatalities.

 

The leading causes of incident remain abrupt lane changes (32.2%), excessive speeding, and poor visibility. Motorcycles were involved in 90.04% of accidents, followed by pickup trucks and private cars.

 

Chiang Rai saw the highest number of crashes (10) and injuries (11) on 3 January, while Phitsanulok recorded the most fatalities (3).

 

Over the eight days from 27 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, the accumulated toll included 2,149 crashes, 2,090 injuries, and 363 deaths. Surat Thani reported the highest number of crashes (78), while Bangkok registered the most fatalities (21).

 

Excessive speeding and reckless driving continue to dominate as the primary factors contributing to the carnage, often exacerbated by drunk driving. Motorcycles remain the most common vehicles involved in these incidents.

 

As the country enters the final stretch of the New Year celebrations, authorities continue to urge drivers to prioritise safety to prevent further tragedy.

 

Related article:

Day 7 of the New Year Road Safety Campaign;

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1347820-day 7-of-the-new-year-road-safety-campaign /

 

 

-- 2025-01-04

 

[watchcat]

15 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

and poor visibility

 

Why not try the light knob, it may in fact work.

[JensenZ]

I found this info from the WHO, which is probably as good as any stats on road deaths in Thailand:

 

Thailand ranks ninth out of 175 WHO member countries for road traffic deaths. In 2021, WHO estimates indicated 18,218 road traffic deaths, an average of 50 per day. The most affected were those aged between 15 and 29; and motorcyclists who accounted for 83.8% of all traffic deaths.

 

Assuming an average of 50 deaths a day over the whole year, the 8 dangerous days produced just under the daily average in Thailand. They should make a bigger effort on the other 357 "dangerous days".

 

1. Bangkok had the most fatalities. Who would have thought this from the biggest population centre in Thailand?

2. Most fatalities are from motorcycles. Another no-brainer in a population with so many.

[ozz1]

I guess all the police in their tents didn't do a thing i still don't understand they sit there playing on their phones watching people speeding by    what a waste of resources

[watchcat]

58 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

what a waste of resources

 

I wouldn't  call them (RPT) as rescurces.

[mikebell]

 RTP have sat for eight days by the side of these roads drawing their overtime whilst 363 people have been killed because they, the police, do nothing on the 345 less Dangerous Days of the year.

[watchcat]

9 minutes ago, mikebell said:

 RTP have sat for eight days by the side of these roads

 

..as they do every day...

[ikke1959]

That number is lower than in the past years, but maybe that is why they made it 10 days. , This year average of 36 a day Last year 284 in 7 days is average of 40.. It looks better, although for many families more grief than party for 2025, and next Songkran again for other families and it goes on and on

[ronnie50]

In many years of living here, I have never seen the police chase a speeding motorist - or chase any motorist for that matter. When you do see something on the news, it's a chase to catch a killer or a thief.

 

Regarding number of deaths in Bangkok Mahanakon, I was surprised by how busy the streets and supermarket parking lots were over the new year period. My local Big C would be almost empty of cars during 31Ded - 1 Jan. Not this year. The parking lot was 3/4 full (Bangkok plates). My guess is fewer people went up country this year. Economy maybe..

[connda]

I was looking at the total death in Thailand according to WHO statistics and the death toll over the last 10 years ranges between 17000 to 24000+.  Average deaths per day range between 55 to 60.  So the current number of deaths per day (363/8 =~45) is well under the average.

So congratulations Thailand.  However, compared to the rest of the world your traffic fatality stats are nothing to be proud of. 

"We're Number 1"

Nothing to be happy about, roo-plow?

[mikebell]

23 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

..as they do every day...

They rarely leave the station.  You can go weeks without seeing a cop anywhere in Pattaya.

[lordgrinz]

Until they daily enforce Thai road laws and rules, nothing will get better, I have no confidence in Thailand ever correction this issue though. TIT