Thai highway death toll reaches 266 on fifth of seven New Year’s holidays

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BANGKOK, Jan 1 —  Two hundred sixty six people were killed in road accidents throughout Thailand during the first five days of the “seven high-risk New Year’s holiday days” from December 27 through January 2, according to the Road Safety Centre.

There were 2,355 road accidents with 2,502 injuries reported from December 27-31. Drunken driving was identified as the main cause of the accidents, according to Assistant Commissioner General Pol Lt Gen Ruengsak Jarit-ek

The government launched the seven-day campaign to cut road accidents during the New Year celebration.

On December 31 alone, there were 537 road accidents, killing 57 people and injuring 571 others.

Overall, the most deaths were reported in Nakhon Ratchasima with 15 casualties, while the highest number of injured was seen in Nakhon Ratchasima at 98.

A major cause of road accidents involved drunken driving at 47.86 per cent. Motorcycles are the vehicle type with the highest number of accidents at 83.99 per cent.