Thailand: Traffic accidents cause over 300 deaths during New Year holiday
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).
People have fun during Christmas and New Year holidays in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - Road accidents in Thailand claimed333 lives over the 2022 New Year break’s "seven dangerous days”, accordingto the country’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).
Thailand recorded 2,707 road accidents from December 29 toJanuary 4, resulting in 2,672 injuries. On January 4 – the last day of thedanger period – alone, 209 road accidents took place, causing 21 fatalities and202 injuries.
During the seven days, Chiang Mai had the highest number ofaccidents, at 96, while Bangkok saw the greatest death toll, at 22.
Speeding was behind more than one-third (34.45 percent) of thetotal accidents while changing lanes caused 25.36 percent. Most accidents(82.04 percent) involved motorbikes and most crashes occurred between 6pm and7pm.
The DDPM reported that accidents and deaths were 18.9 percentlower than in the same period last year.
In 2016, Thailand logged one of the highest road death tollsin the world at 32.7 people out of every 100,000 people. The DDPM wants toreduce the rate to 12 people per 100,000 by 2027./.
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People have fun during Christmas and New Year holidays in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
