The first two days of the New Year holiday period saw 974 road accidents and 109 deaths, the Transport Ministry reported.

Anont Lueangboribon, deputy permanent secretary for transport, said on Sunday that on Saturday there were 510 traffic accidents in which 66 people were killed and 527 others injured.

Drink driving was still the most common cause, resulting in 35.5% of the accidents, followed by speeding (30%). Motorcycles were involved in 64.6% of the incidents.

The northern province of Lampang saw the highest number of accidents at 21. The highest death toll, five, was reported in Nakhon Sawan province, which is on the way from Bangkok to the North. The province which saw the highest number of injured people, 26, was also Lampang.

On the first two days of New Year holiday travel, Friday and Saturday, the highest number of accidents, 33, was reported in the southern province of Surat Thani. The highest death toll of six was in the northern province of Chiang Rai and the Central Plain's Nakhon Sawan. The highest number of injured people, 37, was also reported in Surat Thani.

Drink driving remained the most common cause, followed by speeding, Mr Anont said. There were no traffic casualties in 28 of 77 provinces.