Road deaths rise to 317 after 5 days of New Year's danger period

Road deaths rise to 317 after 5 days of New Year's danger period

A bus with no passengers on board lost control and ploughed through roadside stalls on Road 117 in Bang Rakam district in Phitsanulok on Tuesday. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)
A bus with no passengers on board lost control and ploughed through roadside stalls on Road 117 in Bang Rakam district in Phitsanulok on Tuesday. (Photo by Chinnawat Singha)

The accumulated death toll from road accidents rose to 317 on Monday, the fifth day of the "seven dangerous days" of New Year's holiday travel, with Si Sa Ket recording the most deaths.

A total of 317 people died and 3,188 were injured in 3,056 road accidents across the country from Dec 28 to Jan 1, Opas Karnkawinpong, the deputy permanent secretary for public health, said on Tuesday.

On Jan 1 alone, a total of 71 people were killed and 696 injured in 677 road accidents nationwide.

The most common cause of the fatalities was determined to be drink-drinking (47.27%), followed by speeding (26%). Most accidents involved motorcycles (82.45%), followed by pickup trucks (5.18%), Dr Opas said, citing a report from the Road Safety Directing Centre.

The highest number of road accidents over the past five days - 114 - was reported in Udon Thani.

Si Sa Ket recorded the highest number of deaths at 13, while Udon Thani had the highest number of injuries at 118. Nine provinces reported no deaths or injuries, he added.

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