The six people ‒ four men, two women ‒ were injured in the six accidents recognised by Phuket officials for the 24 hours of Jan 1, DDPM-Phuket Assistant Head Charan Kwankaew told the daily briefing meeting of the ‘Seven Days’ safety campaign held at Phuket Provincial Hall.
The ‘intensive control period’ of this year’s annual safety campaign, focussing mainly on road accidents, began last Friday (Dec 29) and will continue through this Thursday (Jan 4).
Present to chair the briefing was Capt Pongsakorn Itsombat of the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), which serves as the political arm of the Thai military.
Unlike previous reports so far, the report of the meeting today by the Phuket branch of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) did not include any breakdown of the accidents, not even in which districts the recognised accidents occurred.
Of note, Phuket officials recognise only people admitted to hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in road accidents during the annual campaign.
National road-safety agency ThaiRSC, however, reports that 90 people were injured, but no people killed, in Phuket road accidents yesterday (Jan 1).
ThaiRSC already reports one dead and 30 people in road accidents today (Jan 2). The death resulted from an accident in Thalang earlier today, with 18 accidents already recorded in Muang District today, along with nine accidents in Thalang District and three in Kathu District.
Figures for today already reported by ThaiRSC are expected to be somewhat recognised by Phuket officials in their daily briefing tomorrow.
The DDPM-Phuket report confirming six people injured yesterday brings the official tally for the ‘Seven Days’ campaign for the New Year so far to 27 people admitted to hospital for injuries, but no deaths.
The report repeated the same previously reported notes that the main contributing factors for road accidents during the campaign were risky driving behavior, drunk driving and speeding.
The most common vehicle involved in road accidents were motorbikes.
There are a total of 30 police checkpoints across the island, comprising 11 main checkpoints and 19 community checkpoints, the report repeated.
Like yesterday, the report of the ‘Seven Days’ briefing by PR Phuket today did not confirm the number of fines issued for traffic violations during the 24 hours of Jan 1.
Regarding the tour speedboat accident at Koh Maithon on Sunday (Dec 31), the report today only recognised the same information already recognised by the daily briefing: that one person was killed and eight people were injured; that the eight injured were receiving hospital treatment; and that speedboat was covered by insurance to the amounts of B15,000 for medical expenses and B100,000 in the event of death.
According to the PR Phuket report, Mr Charan spoke at length about officials being urged to ramp up road safety efforts, especially by local officials at the community level, and for officials to help facilitate traffic to ease congestion as people continue to head home from enjoying their holiday in Phuket.
Police and officials were asked to make extra efforts at the bus stations to ensure people do not miss their buses and that the buses and bus drivers comply with safety measures.