PHUKET: Only seven deaths were recorded on Phuket roads for July, bringing the tally for the year so far to 72 - five less that for the same period in 2010, according to Phuket Public Health Department figures.
The tally for the same period on Phuket in 2009 was 94, indicating that progress is being made with road safety.
Phuket's ''100 percent helmet'' campaign was adjudged the most successful Royal Thai Police road safety campaign in Thailand for 2010, Phuket Police Commander Major Pekad Tantipong said this week.
Major General Pekad carried the idea island-wide after Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2010, Phuket City Superintendent Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, established a strategy for achieving a higher proportion of helmet-wearers.
Colonel Wanchai later received an award from the Prime Minister for his work. Safety awareness and better road design are probably also contributing factors to the reduction in road deaths.
However, motorcycles still cast a pall over Phuket's health services, with 8701 people treated in Phuket's three public hospitals to the end of July for crash injuries. Most of them are related to motorcycle crashes.
Public Health recorded two drownings on Phuket in July when Phuketwan recorded three at Karon beach. The discrepancy is explained because Public Health figures are measured from the 26th of each month.
According to Public Health statistics, there have been 20 drownings on Phuket and in the sea off Phuket to the end of July. That figure matches the tally for the same period last year but is well down on the 2009 total of 36 for the same period.
Public Health figures record deaths and injuries recorded at Phuket's three public hospitals but not at private hospitals.
An official has also made the point that some deaths that occur well after a crash may not be directly attributed by doctors at the hospital to the crash.
The tally for the same period on Phuket in 2009 was 94, indicating that progress is being made with road safety.
Phuket's ''100 percent helmet'' campaign was adjudged the most successful Royal Thai Police road safety campaign in Thailand for 2010, Phuket Police Commander Major Pekad Tantipong said this week.
Major General Pekad carried the idea island-wide after Phuketwan Phuket Person of the Year 2010, Phuket City Superintendent Colonel Wanchai Eakpornpit, established a strategy for achieving a higher proportion of helmet-wearers.
Colonel Wanchai later received an award from the Prime Minister for his work. Safety awareness and better road design are probably also contributing factors to the reduction in road deaths.
However, motorcycles still cast a pall over Phuket's health services, with 8701 people treated in Phuket's three public hospitals to the end of July for crash injuries. Most of them are related to motorcycle crashes.
Public Health recorded two drownings on Phuket in July when Phuketwan recorded three at Karon beach. The discrepancy is explained because Public Health figures are measured from the 26th of each month.
According to Public Health statistics, there have been 20 drownings on Phuket and in the sea off Phuket to the end of July. That figure matches the tally for the same period last year but is well down on the 2009 total of 36 for the same period.
Public Health figures record deaths and injuries recorded at Phuket's three public hospitals but not at private hospitals.
An official has also made the point that some deaths that occur well after a crash may not be directly attributed by doctors at the hospital to the crash.
I think this is a massive blight on the Thai police force that the "100% helmet campaign" has been adjudged the most successful. Anyone who frequents Phuket's roads know that it has hardly made a dent in the number of people riding helmetless.
Posted by jimmyjohnson on August 19, 2011 09:28
Editor Comment:
More young people are wearing helmets and awareness of safety is much greater. Talk of ''massive blight'' is, sadly for you, a massive exaggeration.