Nearly one death a day on Phuket roads

PHUKET TOWN: Motorcycle mayhem between April 20 and May 20 brought 26 deaths on Phuket roads despite more concerted attempts to cut the toll. All those who died in that period were motorcycle riders or pillion passengers, according to statistics from the Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. The carnage followed a much-praised police crackdown in Phuket over Songkran that kept the toll during the dangerous festival period to a single fatality. Ampaipan Pawawattananusorn, of the Phuket Provincial Health Office, reported that in the April 20 to May 20 period, 985 people were also injured in crashes involving motorbikes while 47 people were injured in car accidents. In the year to May 20, 104 people have died on motorcycles and one in a car. Of the 5,185 people injured so far, 4,756 were on motorbikes. The latest monthly figure was well up on the previous month’s 18 deaths. The total for the year so far indicates an increase is likely on the 2002 toll of 181 deaths on the island’s roads.