The Road Safety Operations Centre (RSOC) on Tuesday reported a reduction in road accidents, injuries and deaths during the New Year 2026 road safety campaign, with day 7 recording 142 accidents, 155 injuries and 19 fatalities nationwide. The figures were announced at 10am on 6 January 2026 at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), marking the final day of the seven-day intensive enforcement period.

The New Year road safety campaign ran from 30 December 2025 to 5 January 2026 under the theme “Safe driving, reduce speed, reduce accidents”. RSOC said cumulative figures over the seven days showed 1,511 accidents, 1,464 injuries and 272 deaths, all lower than during the same period last year, with accidents falling 14% and deaths 31%. Authorities credited joint efforts by central agencies, provincial administrations, police, volunteers and local communities for the improved outcomes.

Deputy Interior Permanent Secretary Chaiwat Chuenkosum, who chaired the briefing, said speeding remained the leading cause of accidents on day 7 at 39.44%, followed by sudden lane changing at 20.42%. Motorcycles were involved in 68.53% of cases, with most crashes occurring on straight roads, particularly highways under the Department of Highways and local administrative roads.

Picture courtesy of DDPM

Accidents peaked between 3.01pm and 6pm, accounting for 20.42% of incidents, while the highest proportion of casualties was among people aged 60–69 years. Phatthalung and Yala recorded the highest number of accidents on day 7 with seven cases each, Phatthalung had the most injuries with nine and Nakhon Sawan reported the highest number of deaths with four.

Over the full seven-day period, Phuket recorded the highest cumulative number of accidents at 55 and injuries at 58, while Bangkok had the highest death toll with 22. Five provinces, Samut Songkhram, Nong Bua Lamphu, Uthai Thani, Phrae and Satun, reported zero fatalities.

Chaiwat said despite overall improvements, risky behaviours such as speeding, drink-driving, riding without helmets, not wearing seatbelts and wrong-way driving continued to contribute significantly to fatalities. He confirmed that all agencies had been instructed to maintain strict law enforcement and public awareness campaigns throughout the year, with a focus on children and young people.

The RSOC said lessons from the New Year campaign would be analysed to strengthen road safety measures year-round and ahead of the Songkran festival. Funds from the Road Safety Fund, financed through special licence plate auctions, will support equipment, warning signage, awareness campaigns and victim assistance to further reduce road casualties.

Picture courtesy of DDPM

Key Takeaways

• Road accidents, injuries and deaths declined during the seven-day New Year 2026 campaign compared with last year.

• Speeding and motorcycle use remained the main risk factors, despite intensified enforcement.

• Authorities plan year-round road safety measures and tighter integration ahead of Songkran.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from DDPM 2026-01-06

 

 

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What is missing from all of these daily news articles is a year to year comparison. Did accidents, injuries, or deaths increase or decline vs. the prior year? If they didn’t decline I would assume the campaign and increased enforcement didn’t have much of an effect.

I drove quite a lot between the 31st and the 4th and I saw no sign of improved driving skills on Thailand’s highways.

It seems that the death toll has been reduced to the level of what Thailand considers ''normal'' - ie some 40 deaths a day.

As such, the ''seven dangerous days'' can no longer be considered ''dangerous'' . . .

Self-congratulation all round.

I guess by the last day of the dangerous time most idiots had removed themselves from the road, one way or another