There were 1,185 traffic accidents over the first five days of the New Year travel period, claiming 207 people’s lives and injuring 1,141 others.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said on Sunday the figures applied from Dec 30 (Tuesday) to Jan 3 (Saturday) inclusive.
Phuket province reported the most accidents, 47, and the most injured people, 51, and Bangkok the highest traffic death toll, 18. Only nine of the 76 provinces were free of road fatalities.
Speeding was the most common cause, blamed in 33% of the accidents, followed by cutting-in, 22%. Motorcyclists were involved in 73% of the traffic accidents.
Mr Pattana said many New Year travellers had began returning to Bangkok and other major economic provinces on Sunday.
The director-general of the Probation Department, Piya Raksakul, said from Dec 30 to Jan 3, 2,957 people were placed on probation for drink driving, 160 for driving under the influence of drugs, four for reckless driving and two for speeding.
Source: Bangkok Post