Thailand: Traffic accidents cause over 300 deaths during New Year holiday

06/01/2022 09:40

Road accidents in Thailand claimed 333 lives over the 2022 New Year break’s "seven dangerous days”, according to the country’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

Thailand: Traffic accidents cause over 300 deaths during New Year holiday ảnh 1

People have fun during Christmas and New Year holidays in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Bangkok (VNA) - Road accidents in Thailand claimed 333 lives over the 2022 New Year break’s "seven dangerous days”, according to the country’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

Thailand recorded 2,707 road accidents from December 29 to January 4, resulting in 2,672 injuries. On January 4 – the last day of the danger period – alone, 209 road accidents took place, causing 21 fatalities and 202 injuries.

During the seven days, Chiang Mai had the highest number of accidents, at 96, while Bangkok saw the greatest death toll, at 22.

Speeding was behind more than one-third (34.45 percent) of the total accidents while changing lanes caused 25.36 percent. Most accidents (82.04 percent) involved motorbikes and most crashes occurred between 6pm and 7pm.

The DDPM reported that accidents and deaths were 18.9 percent lower than in the same period last year.

In 2016, Thailand logged one of the highest road death tolls in the world at 32.7 people out of every 100,000 people. The DDPM wants to reduce the rate to 12 people per 100,000 by 2027./.

VNA