Road injuries up in 1999, but deaths down

PHUKET TOWN: The number of people injured in road accidents in Phuket in 1999 was 3% higher than in 1998, but the death toll fell by 6%. A total of 10,553 people were hurt in road accidents, 94% of whom were on motorcycles, up from 10,250 in the previous year. Motorcycles were also by far the biggest cause of road deaths, with 170 people on motorbikes dying, compared with 20 in cars. In 1998, the figures were 179 and 23, respectively. Statistics on road injuries and deaths are provided monthly by Phuket Provincial Health Office, and are based wholly on the records of Phuket’s three public hospitals – Wachira, Thalang and Patong. Statistics from private hospitals are not obtained.