December 31st, 2005, 10:53
"Holiday death toll now 37
Hundreds of people pack the Mor Chit bus terminal waiting to catch buses out of Bangkok, as New Year revellers begin heading upcountry. тАФ APICHIT JINAKUL
Nightspots allowed to open until 6am
BANGKOK POST REPORTERS
The first day of the New Year holiday period claimed 37 lives and 495 casualties in road accidents in the country. But the death toll was lower than that of last year.
However, observers said the number of deaths and injuries on Thursday may be higher. The figures of those slightly injured in road accidents and those who were not admitted to hospital were not counted in the overall toll. Officials said they decided not to use the minor injury figures because many people pay their medical bills by using the social security medical scheme.
Last year, figures for both the injured who were sent to hospital and those treated for minor wounds but who were not admitted to hospital were included in the toll. Interior Minister ACM Kongsak Wantana said there were 408 road accidents on Dec 29, in which 37 people were killed and 495 injured _ lower than the government's prediction and last year's figures.
The highest death tolls were reported in Chanthaburi, where four people were killed on Thursday, followed by three deaths each in Nakhon Sawan and Nong Khai. Two people were killed in Nakhon Ratchasima, Phayao, Rayong and Surin; and one killed in Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Nakhon Phanom, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Roi-Et, Ratchaburi, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Amnat Charoen, Uttaradit, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Nayok.
A total of 2,901 road checkpoints have been set up across the country to check vehicles' engines, breathalyse drivers and provide water and medicine to people in need. The checkpoints were manned by 76,173 officers in total.
The fatalities were attributed to speeding, which accounted for 34.38% of the deaths, drink-driving (18.75%), and cutting in front of other vehicles (15.63%). Motorcycles accounted for 81.34% of vehicles involved in accidents, followed by pick-up trucks (7.6%) and passenger buses (0.69%), said the minister.
The ministry has also allowed all nightspots to extend operating hours to 6am on New Year's day and late on Jan 2.
Meanwhile, a passenger mini-bus driver charged with drunk driving was yesterday given a two-month jail term.
The North Bangkok District Court initially sentenced Saneh Prangsorn, 46, the driver of mini-bus number 1806, to three months in jail for drunk driving. But as he confessed to the charges, his sentence was commuted by one-third to two months imprisonment."
Bangkok Post 31/12/05
I wonder what Bars - stay open until late on January 2nd - means?
Hundreds of people pack the Mor Chit bus terminal waiting to catch buses out of Bangkok, as New Year revellers begin heading upcountry. тАФ APICHIT JINAKUL
Nightspots allowed to open until 6am
BANGKOK POST REPORTERS
The first day of the New Year holiday period claimed 37 lives and 495 casualties in road accidents in the country. But the death toll was lower than that of last year.
However, observers said the number of deaths and injuries on Thursday may be higher. The figures of those slightly injured in road accidents and those who were not admitted to hospital were not counted in the overall toll. Officials said they decided not to use the minor injury figures because many people pay their medical bills by using the social security medical scheme.
Last year, figures for both the injured who were sent to hospital and those treated for minor wounds but who were not admitted to hospital were included in the toll. Interior Minister ACM Kongsak Wantana said there were 408 road accidents on Dec 29, in which 37 people were killed and 495 injured _ lower than the government's prediction and last year's figures.
The highest death tolls were reported in Chanthaburi, where four people were killed on Thursday, followed by three deaths each in Nakhon Sawan and Nong Khai. Two people were killed in Nakhon Ratchasima, Phayao, Rayong and Surin; and one killed in Bangkok, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Chumphon, Nakhon Phanom, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, Phetchaburi, Roi-Et, Ratchaburi, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Saraburi, Amnat Charoen, Uttaradit, Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Nayok.
A total of 2,901 road checkpoints have been set up across the country to check vehicles' engines, breathalyse drivers and provide water and medicine to people in need. The checkpoints were manned by 76,173 officers in total.
The fatalities were attributed to speeding, which accounted for 34.38% of the deaths, drink-driving (18.75%), and cutting in front of other vehicles (15.63%). Motorcycles accounted for 81.34% of vehicles involved in accidents, followed by pick-up trucks (7.6%) and passenger buses (0.69%), said the minister.
The ministry has also allowed all nightspots to extend operating hours to 6am on New Year's day and late on Jan 2.
Meanwhile, a passenger mini-bus driver charged with drunk driving was yesterday given a two-month jail term.
The North Bangkok District Court initially sentenced Saneh Prangsorn, 46, the driver of mini-bus number 1806, to three months in jail for drunk driving. But as he confessed to the charges, his sentence was commuted by one-third to two months imprisonment."
Bangkok Post 31/12/05
I wonder what Bars - stay open until late on January 2nd - means?