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Published on January 14, 2008

A government report showing a decreased number of deaths and injuries from road accidents over the week around New Year's celebration is good news for 2008. Several years of joint efforts by the public and private sectors to improve road safety during major holiday periods in Thailand finally seem to have borne fruit. The latest statistics, though better in terms of lower casualty figures, are nothing to cherish yet as there is much more room for further improvement.

According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's official report, 401 people died and 4,903 were injured in road accidents between December 28, 2007 and January 3, 2008, the holiday week during which the government promoted extra nationwide awareness against traffic mishaps. The death toll is lower than last year's figure by 48 and 40 fewer people were injured. The total number of traffic accidents - 4,475 - during the target week, however, surpasses last year's total by 19. Bangkok had the highest death toll with 24, followed by Khon Kaen and Nakhon Pathom at 18 and 17 respectively. Chiang Rai had the highest number of road accidents at 157 and the highest number of injured at 169. Only three provinces of all 76- Mae Hong Son, Pattani and Narathiwat - had a clean record with zero deaths from road accidents.

The government records also pinpoint drunk driving as the number one cause of road accidents during the celebratory week, accounting for 23.45 per cent of all cases reported. Speeding takes second place at 20.9 per cent, followed by other kinds of reckless driving. A predominant majority of the accidents, 81.11 per cent, involved motorcycles, with pickup trucks ranking a far second at 6.39 per cent. Of all accidents, 66.95 per cent occurred on straight portions of secondary roads, mostly between 4pm and 8pm.

The lower casualty rate during this crucial high-risk week is the commendable result of hard work by responsible parties. Intense media campaigns against drunk and drowsy driving launched by the public and private sector, and highway checkpoints set up to watch for drunk drivers, have undoubtedly helped deter potential offenders. Despite all such efforts, the higher overall number of road accidents, 4,475, is a reminder that it is not time to relax just yet. The figure shows that more accidents happened this year and that it could have been just a matter of sheer luck that fewer people were killed and injured.

What lies beneath the lower number of road casualties during the New Year's holiday period is a Public Health Ministry report showing that cases of violations of time restrictions on the selling of alcohol have jumped sharply in the provinces. A ministry survey of 807 shops and stores nationwide showed that 429, or 53 per cent of them, sold alcohol to motorists and general customers outside the two permissible periods of 11am to 2pm and 5pm to 12am. The figure is alarmingly higher than last year's - three times higher - with more offences by businesses located along secondary roads, according to the ministry's report.

These facts as revealed by the report may serve to explain why drunk driving remained the primary cause of road accidents during the period around New Year's Day this year. While authorities focused on restricting the sale of alcohol to motorists and revellers along main highways this year, shops and stores along secondary roads seemed to be under a less serious watch and thus took the law lightly.

Police and other parties concerned must observe this loophole and learn how to tackle the problem of drunk driving right at its roots during the next major holiday period. Like many other bad habits, drunk driving can be effectively contained only when individuals spontaneously heed their own conscience, but it might take forever for that ideal day to come in this country where drunk motorists have long enjoyed the ability to freely roam the streets.

Immediate results can be achieved only with authorities' strict enforcement of the law along with a clear understanding of the nature of the problem.

The Nation