202 killed, 1,898 injured in road accidents in first four days of New Year holidays

BANGKOK, December 31 (TNA) - A total of 202 people were killed and 1,898 others injured in road accidents throughout Thailand during the first four days of the so-called “seven dangerous days” of New Year travels, set from December 27, 2012 to January 2, 2013, said Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana on Monday. Quoting a report issued by the Road Safety Centre of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phongthep said a total of 1,827 road accidents occurred in the kingdom during the first four days of the campaign, launched by the government and aimed at raising awareness of New Year holidaymakers while driving. The northern capital of Chiang Mai recorded the highest number of road accidents during the period, with 89, followed by the northernmost province of Chiang Rai with 59 and Nakhon Sawan 54, Phongthep said. Nakhon Pathom, near Bangkok, recorded the highest number of people killed during the four-day period with 11 followed by Chiang Mai, with 10, and Phetchabun with eight. He said the main causes of accidents were attributed to drink driving, speeding and poor visibility. (TNA)