The figures were reported at a meeting of the provincial subcommittee on Road Accident Prevention and Reduction held at 9am today (Jan 5) at the Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket), chaired by Vice Governor Teeraphong Chuaychoo.
The meeting reviewed the accident situation for Jan 4, the penultimate day of the national seven-day intensive road safety control period for New Year 2026. The annual road-safety campaign will conclude at midnight tonight (Jan 5).
DDPM Phuket reported that the cumulative toll from Dec 30 to Jan 4 stood at 50 accidents, 53 people admitted to hospital and five deaths.
Of the fatalities, four were Myanmar men and one was a Thai man, who died in a motorcycle accident yesterday.
Among the injured, 45.28% were local Thai residents, 9.43% were Thai nationals from outside the province, and 45.28% were foreigners or migrant workers, DDPM Phuket reported.
Motorcycles were involved in 94.23% of all accidents. The leading causes were speeding (45.73%), sudden cutting in front of other vehicles (21.31%) and drunk driving (13.33%). High-risk behaviours identified included speeding (46.53%), failure to wear helmets (28.71%) and drink-driving (15.84%).
By district, Mueang District recorded the highest number of incidents, with 27 accidents, 29 injuries and three deaths. Thalang District followed with 13 accidents, 14 injuries and two deaths, while Kathu District reported 10 accidents and 10 injuries, with no fatalities.
The peak time for accidents was between 12:01am and 3am, accounting for 20% of cases, followed by 3:01am to 6am at 16%. The age group most frequently involved in accidents was 45-54 years old, representing 29.31% of cases.
The subcommittee also examined risks following the end of the holiday period, particularly accidents linked to negligence and accumulated driver fatigue. Mr Teeraphong stressed the need for strict inspections of public transport drivers, calling on the Department of Land Transport and labour agencies to ensure drivers are fit to operate vehicles.
He also urged employers to take responsibility for their workers’ road safety by preventing staff from driving when unfit, and proposed inviting employers and workers involved in accidents to joint discussions to draw lessons from past incidents and establish clearer shared-responsibility standards.
High-risk and accident-prone locations on main roads were also discussed. Relevant agencies were tasked with collecting and analysing accident location data to prioritise short-term and long-term solutions, which will be incorporated into Phuket’s annual development plans. The private sector and the public will be invited to participate in supporting road safety initiatives.
In closing, Mr Teeraphong said Phuket needs a clear, province-wide strategic plan to systematically address road accidents, adding that businesses should be encouraged to join the “Safe Phuket” project, particularly through installing speed-control devices in vehicles, to raise safety standards, reduce losses and build long-term confidence for residents and tourists alike.