LATEST statistics reveal that Phuket appears to be reducing the number of fatalities on the island's roads, although high-season drownings are rising alarmingly.

Ten people were killed on Phuket roads in February, taking the total toll for the year so far to 17. This compares favorably with the death toll of 28 after the first two months of 2010, and 27 in the same period of 2009.

Some of the improvement can possibly be ascribed to the ''100 percent helmet'' campaign although if awareness of road safety had improved measurably, a decrease should be evident in the number of injuries. This hasn't happened.

Better road warnings, signage and lighting have probably also played a part in reducing the death toll. With all Phuket schools now becoming involved in campaigning for helmet-wearing, the corollary of safety awareness is expected to sink in.

Students raised to always wear a helmet are expected to become parents who encourage their children to always wear helmets - although many of them are likely to be driving safer vehicles long before then.

An extrapolation of the toll figures from the first two months of 2011 to the entire year would give Phuket a monthly fatality average of fewer than 10 and a total toll numbering less than 120.

Steady gains have been made in recent years, from a period when more than 200 people died each year on Phuket roads to 155 in 2009 and 137 in 2010.

The same kinds of gains are less plain in the water. Four drownings were reported for Phuket in February, making a total of seven so far in 2011. This compares with 5 in 2009 and four in 2010.

The high figure for January and February so far indicates that lifeguards are needed on the beaches of Phuket all year long, not just in the low season, which is perceived to be more dangerous because of rip undercurrents at some popular beaches.

Talks are continuing between the Phuket Lifeguard Club, which formally suspended lifeguard services on February 26 when the contract expired, and the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, which has already announced that the next contract will be for the entire year and at an increased budget.

In March 2009, 12 people drowned off Phuket. The figure included seven fatalities from the Dive Asia boat capsize.

No deaths have been reported to Phuketwan since the lifeguard contract expired.

Some beaches have organised an interim lifeguard service of volunteers, but the longer negotiations take, the less patient the volunteers are likely to become.

Thirty seven people drowned on Phuket in 2010 compared to 53 in 2009.