The accumulated death toll rose to 256 on Tuesday, the fifth day of the “seven dangerous days’’ of New Year holiday travel, with Bangkok recording the most deaths.
A total of 256 died and 2,588 injured in 2,529 road accidents across the country from Dec 27 to 31, Veera Khengkasikarn, inspector-general of the Education Ministry said on Wednesday.
On Dec 31 alone, a total of 42 people were killed and 567 injured in 542 road accidents across the country.
If the numbers are correct, the road toll was slightly lower in terms of deaths and significantly lower in terms of injuries than on an average day in Thailand.
Road accidents killed 45 people and injured 2,523 each day on average from January to October 2019, according to data compiled by the central road accident claims company, Road Accident Victims Protection Co.
Over the Dec 27-31 period, Bangkok had the highest number of deaths at 12, while Chiang Mai recorded the highest number of injuries and road accidents at 77 and 76 respectively. Eleven provinces recorded no deaths.
Mr Veera said many revellers were expected to start returning to Bangkok on Wednesday. Traffic on main roads would be heavier, he warned.
Drink-driving topped the list of traffic offences sent to courts from Dec 27-31, with 18,314 offenders, said Court of Justice spokesman Suriyan Hongwilai.
The other top two offences sent to courts during the New Year holidays were driving without licences (2,947) and driving under the influence of drugs (259), said Mr Suriyan.