Death toll of road accidents hits 226 Friday

Deputy Public Health Minister, Manit Nopamornbodi, who chairs the centre, said a total of 2,329 road accidents occurred in provinces nationwide from December 30, to January 1 - killing 226 people and injuring 2,504.

Authorities list drinkdriving as the main cause of road accidents, responsible for 52 per cent for the first three days of the New Year holidays, followed by excessive speeding with 21 per cent. Half the accidents listed as risky behaviour involved riders without helmets; while the motorcycle was the most common vehicle in road accidents.

Manit said accidents were most frequent between 4 pm and 8 pm during the first three days of the holiday, taking place mainly on direct roads, especially in villages.

On Thursday, Surin had the highest number of provincial road accidents, 43, followed by Songkhla with 35.

Whereas, Chiang Rai had the highest death toll with nine, Nakhon Sawan with seven. Surin also has the most injuries with 48, and Chanthaburi,33.

Over the three-day period, Chiang Rai also had the highest fatalities with 14, followed by Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Sawan, each with nine.

Surin has the highest injuries toll with 101, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Rai were second each with 85.

Manit said the centre has set up 2,996 checkpoints and instructed 77,728 officials to operate during this New Year holidays.

Over 741,568 vehicles were checked at points across country. 19,681 drivers were charged for having no driver's license and 17,969 for not wearing helmets.

The centre has ordered provincial authorities across country to establish more checkpoints to slow down the speed of vehicle on the road, especially buses and motorcycles.

Anucha Mokkhaves, directorgeneral of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said drivers should not stop to buy souvenirs or food beside main roads as it can cause the traffic jams and road accidents.

Parents should teach their children to ride motorcycles or drive with care. Children caught riding motorcycles without a driver's license or driving drunk could face fines of Bt5,000 to Bt20,000 and imprisonment for a year. If they caused death, they faced jail for a maximum 10 years and fines of Bt200,000.

Manit said during the past three days over 2,504 people have been admitted to hospital following road accidents. He has instructed all provincial hospitals to be on standby as emergency centres to provide aid to road accident victims around the clock.