Road accidents kill 436 during New Year travel in Thailand

BANGKOK, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- A total of 436 people died and 2,376 others were injured in 2,467 road accidents across Thailand during the New Year travel from Dec. 27 to Jan. 5, official data showed on Monday.

The 10-day high-risk travel period saw the number of road traffic accidents and injuries decrease despite a rise in fatalities compared to the same timeframe last year, said Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri.

During the road safety campaign, the capital Bangkok recorded the highest number of fatalities at 26, Songsak said at a press conference.

The main causes of accidents were speeding and cutting in front of vehicles, while motorcycles were involved in most of the accidents, he added.

Songsak underscored the need for integrated efforts among relevant sectors to proactively reduce road accident risks, alongside continuous strict law enforcement throughout the year.

The Thai government aims to achieve the national target of reducing the road fatality rate to 12 per 100,000 people by 2027. ■