Road death toll falls

PHUKET: Eighteen people died in traffic accidents on Phuket’s roads between March 20 and April 20, a drop of 25% when compared with the 24 deaths during the previous 30-day period, according to statistics from Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. The figures, issued yesterday, show that one person died in a car accident while 17 deaths involved motorbikes. In the same period, 1,078 were injured, compared with 1,144 the previous month. The road toll includes the three deaths and 311 injuries on Phuket’s roads during the Songkran holidays of April 11-17, a period notorious for road accidents in Thailand. Although the total number of accidents fell to 996 compared to 1,078 in March, motorbikes remained the most dangerous form of transport on the island, being involved in 931 accidents during the period.