Two dead in first 30 hours of ‘Seven Days of Danger’ campaign

PHUKET: As the first full day of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road safety campaign came to a close, the goal of zero road fatalities was already dashed.

According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office, the island saw 10 road accidents on day one of the campaign, resulting in 11 injuries and the death of Pat Prayernyong, 48.

Of the 11 injured, seven were foreigners.

Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan last week confirmed Phuket’s zero road-deaths goal for the New Year’s road-safety campaign, which is running from December 29 through January 4 (story here).

As the sun rose on the campaign’s second day, an early morning accident claimed the life of Mutslim Dakhan, 23, and injured his passenger Appasara Suriyakanjana, 19, on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang.

Only a day and a half into this year’s campaign, the total number of road deaths is already equal to the total number of fatalities during last year’s campaign, which saw two dead and 45 injured in a period of seven days (story here).

The increased security measures have thus far seen more than 2,000 vehicles checked and nearly 400 traffic offenders charged, including 159 people for driving without helmets and 123 people for driving without a valid licence.

Additionally, 17 motorists were caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Additional reporting by Winai Sarot.

— Kongleaphy Keam