The 7 Dangerous Days of the Thai New Year

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It is that time of year again when the death toll on Thailand’s roads is released to the media every day. The so-called “Seven Dangerous Days of the New Year” started today, 27th December, and runs until 2nd January. During this time many people head up country for holidays. Many also drink alcohol as part of the celebrations. Some of them then decide to drive home while intoxicated. Last year, there were 3,093 accidents which resulted in 336 deaths. That works out at 48 per day. In comparison, there were 320 road deaths during Songkran this year. Not many people realize this, but the New Year is far more dangerous on the roads than during Songkran.

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Thai police have identified these danger spots on the highways:

1) Kilometre markers No 77-78 on the Phahon Yothin highway at tambon Sanabtube in Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi district, which is a long sharp curve.

2) Kilometre markers No 27-30 on the Mittraphap highway at tambon Muak Lek in Saraburi’s Muak Lek district. This particular point is downhill with several sharp curves.

3) In front of the fish market at kilometre markers No 28-35 on the inbound Rama 2 highway in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district. The route there is very slippery because of mucilage dropping from fish trucks.

4) Kilometre markers No 42-48 on highway No 304 (Kabin Buri-Pakthongchai) at Nadee district of Prachin Buri. This part of the road is uneven with several sharp S-curves.

5) Kilometre markers No 76-79 on highway No 348 (Aranyaprathet-Non Din Daeng) in tambon Thapraj of Sa Kaeo’s Ta Phraya district, which is up and downhill, also with S-curves.

6) Kilometre markers No 40-41 on the outbound Mittraphap highway at tambon Klang Dong in Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima. There are many fruit and local products shops on the roadside on this part of the highway.

7) Kilometre markers No 35-38 on the inbound Mittraphap highway at tambon Klang Dong, which is a dangerous downhill route.

Source: Bangkok Post

STATISTICS ON THAILAND’S ROADS

New Year 2009-2010
3534 accidents (504/day), 3827 injured (546/day) and 347 dead (49/day)

New Year 2010-2011
3497 accidents (499/day), 3750 injured (535/day) and 358 dead (51/day)

New Year 2011-2012
3093 accidents (441/day), 3375 injured (482/day) and 336 dead (48/day)

VEHICLES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS 2011-2012

Motorcycles: 81.47%.
Pick-up trucks: 9.34%
Cars: 3.72%

TIME OF DAY WHEN ACCIDENTS HAPPENED 2011-2012

66.08% of accidents happened overnight. Only 33.92% of accidents happened during daylight.

16:01 to 20:00 28.87%.
20:01 to 24:00 16.97%.
00:01 to 04:00 12.71%.
4:01 to 8:00 7.53%.

8:00 to 12:00 13.68%.
12:01 to 16:00 20.24%.

CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS 2011-2012

1. Drunk Driving
2. Speeding beyone limit
3. Reckless driving
4. Driving too close to car in front
5. No driver’s license

If you are driving over the new year period, or taking public transport such as buses or vans, please stay safe. If you see your driver looking drowsy or obviously drunk, ask him to pull over. Earlier this year, two foreigners weren’t happy with the way their tour bus driver was driving. They asked him to slow down. When he didn’t, they asked him again. He then stopped the bus and told them to get off the bus. As it turned out, that was their lucky day. Less than an hour later, the bus was involved in a serious accident and flipped over. If your gut tells you that something bad might happen then do something about it. It could save your life.

4 thoughts on “The 7 Dangerous Days of the Thai New Year

  • January 3, 2017 at 3:07 pm
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    3 and 4 are one in the same.

    Reply
  • July 4, 2013 at 12:01 pm
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    No driver’s license should be written as “inexperienced and unlicensed drivers” as merely not being in possession of a driver’s license at the time an accident occurs can’t be the cause of an accident.

    Reply
  • December 27, 2012 at 6:09 pm
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    They missed a big one off the list “Causes of accident”.
    Driving while on the mobile phone.

    Reply
  • December 27, 2012 at 11:42 am
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    Those are reported by the Thai Government stats and, most likely, are under-reported.

    Reply

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