Crashes Down Slightly In Thailand's First 5 'Dangerous Days', Booze Still Top Problem

[webfact]

Crashes down slightly in first 5 'dangerous days', booze still top problem

By Wattana Khamchoo

The Nation

While the number of road accidents during the first five of the New Year season's "Seven Dangerous Days" was down 1.71 per cent from the same period a year ago, drunk driving remained the primary cause of accidents.

Wiboon Sanguanpong, head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported yesterday that from December 29, 2010 to January 2, 2011 Wednesday to Sunday, there were 2,881 accidents, killing 281 people and injuring 3,091 others. That compared with 2,931 accidents, 279 deaths and 3,185 injuries in the same period a year ago.

The Central province of Lop Buri had the most deaths at 12, followed by Prachuap Khiri Khan with 10, while the Northern province of Chiang Rai had the most injuries at 110, followed by Phitsanulok with 99. Chiang Rai also had the most accidents at 103, followed by Phitsanulok with 91, Wiboon said.

On January 2 Sunday alone, 47 people were killed and 435 people were injured in 408 road accidents. Drunk driving accounted for the highest proportion of the accidents at 35.29 per cent, followed by speeding above the legal limit at 22.79 per cent.

Most accidents involved motorcycles, at 85.95 per cent, and nearly a third of road accidents occurred between 4pm and 8pm.

At 2,533 checkpoints manned by 69,416 officials, about 825,000 vehicles were stopped and 100,587 traffic-law violators were charged - mostly for riding motorcycles without helmets, at 29,736 cases, followed by 28,482 cases of driving without a licence.

As many travellers returned to Bangkok yesterday, causing crowded bus terminals and severe traffic jams on highways, Wiboon said he had instructed officials to watch strictly for and arrest violators.

Wiboon also urged motorists to observe the traffic laws, get enough sleep before driving, refrain from drinking alcohol and cooperate with checkpoint officials.

-- The Nation 2011-01-04

[Businessman]

I see the number of accidents are down, unfortunately the number of deaths and injuries are up. I would say that a 1% change in any director is not that statistcally significant, it is just a normal varriation in year to year numbers. I am afraid that there is not much to crow about here. Better luck next year.

[webfact]

6 danger days for New Year sees 325 deaths and 3,453 people injured from 3,227 road accidents /TAN_Network

[Felt 35]

Crashes down slightly in first 5 'dangerous days'

....and I believe the numbers are so accurate down as the TAT numbers always are up!

[neverdie]

so much for keeping it under the 300 target

what do they do down there, just pull numbers out of their backside and say, "Heres our target"

theyre nearly gonna give 400 a nudge - Amazing.

Title should of read, crashes down-deaths up

Edited January 4, 2011 by neverdie

[webfact]

UPDATE

New Year road toll rises to 325 after six days

Follow this link:

[Kernow86]

so much for keeping it under the 300 target

what do they do down there, just pull numbers out of their backside and say, "Heres our target"

theyre nearly gonna give 400 a nudge - Amazing.

Title should of read, crashes down-deaths up

I prefer to read you comments rather than the story! You definitely don't 'mince your words'!

[Tanaka]

"Wiboon also urged motorists to observe the traffic laws, get enough sleep before driving, refrain from drinking alcohol and cooperate with checkpoint officials."

As in: Have your 200 baht ready to give to the officer, thank you!

[phaethon]

They have a Honda Click stuffed and mounted in a display cabinet in On Nut station:

"Dangerous Cool" indeed!

Edited January 4, 2011 by phaethon

[asiawatcher]

There is no way to put old heads on young shoulders but as long as the adults lead by example, the deaths will continue down the line.