The Phuket News Novosti Phuket Khao Phuket

Login | Create Account | Search


New Year traffic accidents claim 207 lives in five days

New Year traffic accidents claim 207 lives in five days

BANGKOK: There were 1,185 traffic accidents over the first five days of the New Year travel period, claiming 207 people's lives and injuring 1,141 others.

alcoholdeathtransportpolice
By Bangkok Post

Monday 5 January 2026 09:00 AM


The Ayutthaya-bound side of the M6 inter-city motorway is packed with holiday makers returning home, in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday morning. Photo: Prasit Tangprasert

The Ayutthaya-bound side of the M6 inter-city motorway is packed with holiday makers returning home, in Nakhon Ratchasima province yesterday morning. Photo: Prasit Tangprasert

Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat said yesterday (Jan 4) the figures applied from Tuesday (Dec 30) to Saturday (Jan 3) inclusive.

Phuket province reported the most accidents, 47, and the most injured people, 51, and Bangkok the highest traffic death toll, 18. Only nine of the 76 provinces were free of road fatalities, reports the Bangkok Post.

Speeding was the most common cause, blamed in 33% of the accidents, followed by cutting-in, 22%. Motorcyclists were involved in 73% of the traffic accidents.

Mr Pattana said many New Year travellers had began returning to Bangkok and other major economic provinces yesterday.

The director-general of the Probation Department, Piya Raksakul, said from Dec 30 to Jan 3, 2,957 people were placed on probation for drink driving, 160 for driving under the influence of drugs, four for reckless driving and two for speeding.