Thailand: 42 killed in road accidents on December 27

Event

According to the national Road Safety Directing Centre, 42 people were killed and more than 400 others were injured in road accidents across the country on Thursday, December 27, reported as the first of the seven most dangerous days of the New Year holidays in terms of driving. The Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi provinces recorded the highest number of accidents. Drink-Driving and high-speed are among the largest cause of road accidents. Four out of five accidents involved motorcycles. Further such accidents are likely in the near term.

Context

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand is one of the world's deadliest country for motorcycle drivers with an average of 5500 motorcyclist deaths annually. Most of the accidents are due to poor vehicle and driver safety standards. There has been little to no improvement on road safety conditions despite safety campaigns over the years.

Advice

As a reminder, travelers willing to drive a car or a motorcycle in Thailand must be in possession of a Thai or an International driver license. Individuals are advised to seek local advice if case of doubts regarding the safety of transportation providers. Helmets are mandatory when driving motorcycles.