Hospitals kept busy with traffic injuries

PHUKET: Eighteen people were killed in traffic accidents in Phuket between March 20 and April 20, a considerable improvement on last year. Last year the figure for the period – which includes Songkhran – was higher, with 25 deaths, of which 23 involved people on motorcycles. Ampaipan Pawawattananusorn of the Phuket Provincial Health Office reported that according to statistics from local government hospitals, of the 18 people who died in the one-month period this year, 12 were on motorcycles, while the remaining six were in cars. In contrast, the number of traffic-related injuries increased in the same period this year. A total of 918 people were hurt on the roads this year (841 on motorbikes and 77 in cars). This compares with 836 injuries last year, 778 on bikes and 58 in cars.