Road deaths mount in New Year's '7 dangerous days'

[buksida]

A total of 39 people were killed and 399 others injured in road accidents yesterday, the first day of the so-called "seven dangerous days" of the New Year holiday period, the Road Safety Centre announced.
With drunk driving considered the root cause of most accidents, provincial authorities set up checkpoints to screen drivers, including those responsible for public transport.

Transport Ministry inspector-general Chanchai Suwisuthakul said the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's figures showed the numbers had increased from first-day figures last year, when 32 people were killed and 321 injured in 313 road accidents.

The major causes of accidents this year was drunk-driving, at 30 per cent, followed by speeding, at 23 per cent.

Of the accidents which occurred, 82 per cent involved motorcycles and 7 per cent involved pick-up trucks.

Some 2,200 checkpoints were manned by 62,780 officials around the country, with 73,944 violations recorded. Nearly 22,000 drivers failed to produce a licence and a similar number - 21,682 - motorcyclists were stopped for riding without helmets.

The highest number of accidents occurred in Phitsanulok and Samut Sakhon, with each recording 20, while the provinces with most deaths were Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri and Surat Thani, with three deaths each. Phitsanulok recorded the most injuries, at 23.

Full Story: The Nation

[PeteC]

Forty-seven people were killed and 486 injured in 474 road accidents on Dec 28, the second of the "seven dangerous days (Dec 27-Jan 2).........These added up the road toll for the first two days to 86 killed and 885 injured from 866 accidents.........

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... 85-injured

[NOKYAI]

I have just done a 20 hour non stop from HH to nr Pakham in Issan!

Bloody hell I have never seen such dangerous driving in my life!

When 2 lanes of the duel carriageway slowed a third lane was made of the hard shoulder on the left....OK I can live with that
Then
A forth lane beyond the overtaking/fast lane on the right.....ahemm

Then people crossed over the central reservation and went the wrong way up the hard shoulder on the other carriageway ....ciikey

Then people went the wrong way up the fast lane shoulder!!

Then up the fast lane the wrong way......until Thay saw a police car then 3 lanes all tried to cross back over the central reservation

Even on bendy, hilly and blind corners long rows of cars overtook which were totally unsighted and had no gaps to pull into.....you will not be surprised I saw lots of accidents and probable fatalities as no help could get to the scene or casualties get to hospital.

It's the first year I have been out of HH for the new year period.....I'm never driving a car again at this time. I have just tried to get home but have been stuck in traffic going south just north of Bangkok. I have given up for tonight and have found a lovely quiet Hotel and am having a beer from room service to calm my nerves.

[usual suspect]

At least you're safe NOKYAI

[usual suspect]

NOKYAI's post above reflects what my wife & I witnessed in HH 2nte...
..at around 11.00pm we were homeward-bound on my motorbike..when we rode up to the Chomsin/Petkasem traffic lights... it was bedlam!
The police had left their 'hut' & gone home leaving the main traffic lights flashing red (give way)..
Well..there were pick-ups full of people in the back doing U-turns as cars were steaming in Southbound..flashing lights, evasive action! A tuk-tuk pulled out in front of another car flying inbound..tuk-tuk had 1 real wheel spinning & engine revving like hell trying to escape the oncoming car.
School-kids doing clutch-wheelies across the junction..no helmet, & (I suspect) no tax, insurance or licence..it was madness!!
If there is an accident there overnight it will be carnage mainly due to the speed of Southbound motorists seeing the flashing red light & keeping their foot down.
Would it not be to much trouble to leave the lights performing as they do during the day..??
Or would this action cause a bigger mess..??
After crossing the main road every night on my way home, I can honestly say tonight I was so nervous just being in the vicinity of that junction put us in so much danger...even before having to attempt to safely cross!

[BOZ]

We made the ride down today from BKK, got to witness the 3 lanes grow to 5 lanes and god help anybody who needed real assistance... Took us 4.5 hrs to do the normal 2.5 run... Traffic jams for no apparent reasons, many rear end accidents do too sipped, not paying attention or bad luck that some moron cut you off... Not a fun ride at all.... Will be heading back on the 4th I am sure that will be fun too, will have the father in-law with us who is a retired Gen in the police.... Always a pleasure.... Enjoy your new year and stay safe!!!!

[PeteC]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... -take-toll

A total of 75 people were killed and 503 injured in 456 road accidents on Dec 29, the third day of the "seven dangerous days of 2013 New Year.

Sunday’s fatal accidents increased the road toll for the first three days to 161 killed and 1,390 injured in 1,322 accidents, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's Road Safety Operation Centre reported on Monday.

The 161 death toll was up 14, or 9.52%, on the same period a year ago.

The province with the highest accumulated number of deaths (12), injuries (62) and accidents (51) in the past three days was Nakhon Ratchasima. On the bright side, 21 provinces had no traffic-related deaths.

Drink-driving and speeding remain the major causes of accidents, the centre said.

[PeteC]

A total of 48 people were killed and 541 injured in 496 road accidents on Dec 30, the fourth day of the "seven dangerous days" of the New Year festival. Monday’s fatal accidents increased the road toll for the first four days to 209 killed and 1,931 injured in 1,818 accidents, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department's Road Safety Operation Centre reported on Tuesday........

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... -last-year

[Bristolian]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ses-to-266
New Year road toll rises to 266

A total of 57 people were killed and 571 injured in 537 road accidents nationwide on Dec 31, the fifth day of the "seven dangerous days", the Road Safety Operations Centre reported on Wednesday.

The road death toll over the first five days went up from 209 reported on Tuesday to 266, while the injuries increased from 1,931 to 2,502, according to the centre.

The province with most fatalities is northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima with 15.

[PeteC]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... ar-holiday

A total of 68 people were killed and 539 injured in 536 road accidents nationwide on Jan 1, the sixth day of the "seven dangerous days", caretaker Deputy Interior Minister Visarn Techateerawat said on Thursday.

He said the ministry’s Road Safety Operations Centre reported that the road death toll over the first six days (Dec 27-Jan 1) went up from 266 on Tuesday, as reported on Wednesday, to 334, while the number of injuries increased from 2,502 to 3,041 in 2,891 road accidents.........

[oakdale160]

Could you imagine the outrage both nationally and internationally if a quarter of this number were as result of the protests------ 17 killed and75 badly injured.in political protests!!!!!!!

[PeteC]

The End (for this year)
___________________________

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... s-year-end

A total of 366 people were killed and 3,345 injured in 3,174 road accidents nationwide over the "seven dangerous days" (Dec 27-Jan 2), caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said on Friday.

The ministry’s Road Safety Operations Centre reported that the official road death toll for the New Year period was the same as the previous year at 366 fatalities, but the number of road accidents had increased by 10, or 0.32%, and the number injuries by 16, an increase of 0.48%, he said.

Drunk driving was ranked the main cause of accidents, at 41.71%. Most vehicle crashes over New Year celebrations involved motorcycles, at 81.03%, he added.

The minister said the riskiest behaviour leading to death and injury was not wearing a safety helmet, which accounted for 22.39%.

The province with most fatalities remains northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima with 21. Nakhon Sawan had the highest number of road accidents at 127.

Provinces which remained road fatality-free over the “seven dangerous days” were Mae Hong Son, Buengkan, Trat, Pattani and Phang Nga.

The ministry on Thursday reported the road toll at 334, with 3,041 injuries.

Mr Charupong said the country’s road accident fatality rate stood at 17 per 1,000 persons per year, substantially higher than his ministry’s target of 10 per 1,000 persons this year.

[GLCQuantum]

I ended up doing the karaoke run last night for the first time since I can remember. Left as it was getting light and it was shocking how many wasted (and I mean wasted!) westerners were getting on their bikes to drive home.

The tuk tuk back to my place in soi 112 was a mere 200 baht... why do people risk it when other forms of transport are so cheap here? (I wouldn't take the motorbike taxi's mind)

Crazy!

[Nereus]

The End (for this year)

If the traffic in Bangkok is any indication, the New Year holiday and related accidents, is far from over. The last 4 or 5 days have been like Songkhran: where I am along Sukumvit very light traffic, also the expressways. A bit more this morning, but nothing like a "normal" Friday.

I would say that the coming weekend, especialy Sunday, will see a a bunch more accidents and deaths. Maybe the powers that be are doing this purposely to "save face"!

[lomuamart]

I agree with that. This dangerous "week" should really have been extended to cover up to and including this coming Sunday.