Distraction and inexperience main causes of motor accidents

[buksida]

Eight per cent of Thai motorists drive without a license and most of them are in the 18-24 years age bracket, according to a Nielsen survey.

The survey aimed to find out driving behaviours and in-car activities following the police reports that as many as 54,341 accident were reported in Thailand in 2012 with 7,634 fatalities, 3,551 major injuries and 17,465 minor injuries. This indicates that 3 out of 10 motorists in Thailand have been involved in a motor accident and one solid cause of motor accident is the motorists themselves who are distracted away from the road ahead or the steering wheel in their hands.

"It is interesting to know whether or not motorists continue to engage themselves in those activities that caused them accidents previously. According to the survey findings, they do. Most motorists still change the stations on their radio or switch CDs while driving, as well as to chat with their passengers, despite these being two prominent causes of road accidents. Additionally, the survey finds that 36 percent of motorists still talk on their mobile phone without the use of a hands-free device as well," said Somwalee Limrachtamorn, Nielsen's Director of Automotive Business.

Full Story: The Nation