BANGKOK, Jan 2 – The death toll from road accidents during the so-called “seven dangerous days” of the New Year holiday period has climbed sharply, with 145 fatalities and 769 injuries reported in the first three days alone. Authorities announced the grim statistics on Friday, revealing Bangkok as the deadliest province and Phuket as the accident hotspot.

Holiday Road Carnage: Speeding and Drunk Driving Claim Dozens in Thailand

Jirapong Thepphitak, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport, presented the latest figures from the Road Safety Directing Centre. He reported that on New Year’s Day, January 1, a single day saw 54 lives lost and 317 injured across 26 accidents nationwide. Speeding remained the leading cause, responsible for 40.18% of the crashes, followed closely by drunk driving at 29.45%. Motorcycles were involved in a staggering 76.92% of all incidents.

“The most dangerous time period was between 12:01 p.m. and 3:00 a.m., accounting for 25.15% of the accidents,” Mr. Jirapong stated. “The highest number of casualties were among people between the ages of 20 and 29.” Most accidents occurred on straight roads, with highways and local village roads being the most common sites.

Thailand Reports 54 Road Deaths on New Year’s Day; 145 in First 3 Days of Holiday Campaign

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Road Safety Center reported 326 traffic accidents on Jan 2, 2026, resulting in 317 injuries and 54 deaths.
During the first three days of the New Year’s safety… pic.twitter.com/0oM2waCfg6

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) January 2, 2026

Cumulatively, from December 29 to January 1, the country recorded 798 accidents. While Phuket led with the highest number of total accidents (34) and injuries (38), the capital city of Bangkok suffered the highest death toll with 12 fatalities.

New Year 2026 Road Safety Campaign Launched Nationwide

With a massive influx of over 700,000 vehicles expected to return to Bangkok and other provinces over the weekend, authorities are bracing for further challenges. Saharat Wongsakulwiwat, deputy director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, warned that traffic is anticipated to peak on Sunday. In response, safety measures have been intensified, including the establishment of additional checkpoints, service stations, and special traffic lanes to manage congestion. Local authorities have been ordered to tighten community checkpoints and rigorously enforce drunk driving laws.

The dangers were starkly illustrated in Phuket province, where at the Tom Yum Goong intersection in Karon, a six-wheel truck lost control while descending a hill. The vehicle skidded, crashed into a parked car, and then plunged onto the road shoulder, resulting in one injury. The incident underscores the ongoing risks on the roads as the holiday travel period continues.

-Thailand News (TN)