New Year driving violations linked to - guess what . . .

[Gaybutton]

Anyone surprised?
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Drink driving tops list of New Year road violations

January 1, 2026

Over 90% of road traffic violations between Dec 30 and Dec 31, 2025, were linked to alcohol consumption, according to recent data. At least one fatality, however, was attributed to improper use of a map application.

Pol Capt Piya Raksakul, director-general of the Department of Probation, reported on Thursday that more than 1,150 traffic violations were recorded on the second day of strict enforcement.

Statistics from the final day of 2025 revealed that 1,093, or 95.04%, of the violations were for driving under the influence (DUI), with 56 cases involving other substances. Only one case of speeding was recorded that day.

During the “seven dangerous days” period, on the second day alone, there were 271 accidents resulting in 53 deaths, leading authorities to emphasise the need for strict measures against speeding and driving under the influence.

In total, 1,473 cases were logged during the two-day enforcement period, with 1,366, or 92.74%, related to drink driving. This represents a decrease of 162 cases compared to the same period last year, Pol Capt Piya said.

The top three provinces for drink driving incidents were Nonthaburi with 174 cases, Bangkok with 131 and Samut Prakan with 127.

In a tragic incident, two women accidentally killed a university freshman when their vehicle struck his motorcycle, sending him into a canal. The crash was discovered at 5am on New Year’s morning on Plasin Road in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district.

Police and rescue workers recovered a severely damaged Toyota Vios from Khlong Bang Bua, along with the body of the 19-year-old student, identified only as Patithep. His Vespa motorcycle was also retrieved in poor condition.

The two women were rescued and taken to Paolo Kaset Hospital. They were identified only as Malee, 28, and Sukontha, 30.

Witnesses reported seeing their vehicle collide with the Vespa at high speed while entering a turn.

Malee claimed they were driving at a normal speed, focusing on their global positioning system (GPS), and only noticed they had hit something just before veering off the road. She added that they did not see the motorcycle before or during their escape from the submerged car.

Both women have been tested for alcohol, and legal proceedings are pending as Patithep’s body undergoes an autopsy.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... violations

[Jun]

Anyone surprised?
During the “seven dangerous days” period, on the second day alone, there were 271 accidents resulting in 53 deaths, leading authorities to emphasise the need for strict measures against speeding and driving under the influence.

I'm only surprised that they persist with this "7 dangerous days" nonsense.
With Thai driving, poor road layout and minimal law enforcement, there are 365 dangerous days.

As Gerefan has pointed out several times in the past, the death rate for these holiday periods is usually below the average for the rest of the year.

[Gaybutton]

there are 365 dangerous days.

366 when it's a leap year . . .

Nobody has to convince me. I drive nearly every day and I wish I had 1 baht for every close call I've had, not to mention also witnessed. Since living here I have seen more dead bodies and serious injuries sprawled out on the streets than I can remember.

There simply is nowhere near how much enforcement is needed, effective enforcement, but the police don't have enough manpower. They can have "crackdowns" and threats of heavy penalties all they want, but it never seems to put much of a dent in it. And don't forget, no matter how severe the penalties might be, in Thailand if the accused confesses, the penalties are usually reduced by as much as half.

I wish I knew what the answer might be. When my time comes I don't want it to be because some drunk plowed into me. And while I am on the subject, I would like to know what ended up happening to the motorbike driver that killed Barry Kenyon, but as usual there was no published media follow-up that I ever spotted.

[Gaybutton]

According to Google:
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In Thailand, the average number of daily traffic deaths is approximately 50 people per day.
Long-term estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other safety watchdogs consistently place this figure between 50 and 70 fatalities daily. Despite various safety campaigns, road fatality rates remain among the highest globally, with motorcyclists accounting for roughly 74% to 84% of all traffic deaths.

Recent 2026 Statistics

During high-travel periods such as the "Seven Dangerous Days" of the New Year, daily rates often spike. Reports for the start of January 2026 include:

January 1, 2026: 54 deaths.
January 2, 2026: 54 deaths.
January 3, 2026: 21 deaths (reported for that single day).
Cumulative Period (Dec 30, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026): 171 deaths recorded over four days, averaging roughly 43 deaths per day during this specific holiday window.

Key Contributing Factors

Vehicle Type: Motorcycles are involved in the vast majority of fatal accidents.
Primary Causes: Speeding (approx. 40%) and drunk driving (approx. 20–30%) are consistently identified as the leading causes of fatal crashes.
Demographics: The age group most affected is typically those between 20 and 29 years old.

Thailand logged 991 road crashes and 171 deaths over the first four days of the New Year safety campaign

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is ... eMPpdf7wAs

[Jun]

Cumulative Period (Dec 30, 2025 – Jan 2, 2026): 171 deaths recorded over four days, averaging roughly 43 deaths per day during this specific holiday window.

Compared with about 50 per day for the rest of the year ?

[gerefan]

When I was bought up in the 1950’s the UK also published figures about the numbers killed over holiday periods. This went on for some time. It was probably the first news article I ever noticed!

Then it was pointed out to them that the figures were actually LESS during holiday periods and following huge discussions the publication of fatalities and accidents over holidays was stopped.

Thailand seems to be behind the times on this!

[Gaybutton]

I agree with the editorial. There are news items about these accident causes nearly every day.
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Pattaya Mail Editorial: How Thailand’s roads and driving habits haunt foreign tourists

January 6, 2026

For many foreign tourists, Thailand’s biggest travel anxiety isn’t crime, illness, or even scams — it’s the road. Despite the country’s image as a relaxed holiday paradise, Thailand consistently ranks among the world’s deadliest countries for road accidents. Long overnight drives, exhausted drivers, loosely regulated passenger vans, and dangerous mountain highways form a risk cocktail that visitors rarely understand until it’s too late.

The Wang Nam Khiao crash on January 5 is a textbook example. A non-scheduled passenger van departed Pattaya before dawn, drove more than 200 kilometers, stopped briefly, and then continued onto one of Highway 304’s most notorious downhill curves. The driver later admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. Two passengers died. Fourteen were injured.

For foreign tourists, this scenario is deeply unsettling — because it feels systemic, not exceptional.

Many visitors assume commercial drivers are strictly regulated, well-rested, and professionally monitored. In reality, non-scheduled vans often operate in a grey zone: long hours, pay tied to passenger numbers, minimal rest enforcement, and routes that include some of Thailand’s most dangerous terrain.

Mountain roads like Highway 304, especially in areas such as Wang Nam Khiao, are infamous even among locals. Sharp downhill curves, high speeds, heavy trucks, and fatigue combine into a lethal pattern. Warning signs exist, but enforcement, speed control, and driver fatigue checks remain weak.

For foreigners, especially first-time visitors, the realization comes late: the most dangerous part of a Thai holiday may not be nightlife or adventure sports — but the journey between destinations.

Until driver working hours are strictly enforced, unsafe routes redesigned, and van transport properly regulated, Thailand’s road death toll will continue to haunt not just locals — but the tourists who trust the system with their lives.

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/how-th ... sts-531658

[Jun]

Our government has a travel advisory against going within 50km of the Cambodian border. Most inconvenient, as it invalidates travel insurance in that area.

Yet, the number of British citizens killed there is, AFAIK, 0. Since border hostilities started, the number of British citizens killed on the roads within a 500m radius of my hotel exceeds that.

I'm rather glad they don't have a travel advisory for the whole of Thailand, but on the other hand, our government advice clearly isn't risk based.

[Gaybutton]

it invalidates travel insurance

That is a very good point. If an official travel advisory is issued, it would be difficult to understand why someone would decide travel in that area despite the advisory. I don't know if the same applies to medical insurance if something happens within a travel advisory area.

It does make sense, though, if it does. I would think insurance companies would have the right to refuse to pay if a travel advisory is issued, but the person decides to travel in that area anyway.

Of course, there might be issues if the person does not know an advisory has been issued or if the person was in such in area when the advisory was issued and something happens when he was trying to exit the area.

I also don't know if any of that applies if the person lives in a travel advisory area or if the person has a valid reason that necessitates traveling to that area. I can see legal disputes arising in that kind of case.

I wonder if the fine print on the insurance forms, which I never read, covers such situations. My guess is if a person travels to a travel advisory area for any reason, if something happens he is on his own.