Day 5 of New Years Holiday, 316 People Killed on Thailand’s Roads

The Road Safety Directing Centre said on Sunday 49 people were killed and 379 injured on Thailand’s roads on Saturday as the 7 day New Year holidays comes close to an end.

So far 316 people have been killed and 2,741 injured in road accidents since the start of the 7 day New Year holiday.

Northeastern Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province led the death toll at 16. While northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai province topped both the number of accidents at 97 and the tally of injured at 99.

Motorcycles dominated in the type of vehicles involved in accidents at 82%. Followed by pickup trucks at almost 6% and cars at 3%. Drunk-driving was still the main cause of the accidents at 35%. Slightly more than driving over the speed limit at 33%.

About one-fourth of the accidents occurred during the four-hour span starting at 4pm. The country ends the New Year celebrations on Monday as revelers based in Bangkok return from other provinces.

Why people keep dying on Thailand’s roads

During the “7 dangerous days” (December 27-January 2), road accidents spike due to the overwhelming number of travellers heading home to spend New Year with their families. During the country’s so-called “7 dangerous days” over the New Year holiday motorists take their lives in their hands.