PHUKET: Road deaths and drownings on Phuket are running at a level similar to last year, latest Public Health Department statistics reveal today.
Two thirds of the way through 2011, a total of 86 deaths have been recorded on Phuket's roads with 25 drownings on or around Phuket.
These figures are similar to tallies for the same period of 2010, but a considerable improvement on 2009 when the respective figures were 114 road deaths and 41 drownings to the end of August.
Fourteen people were killed in crashes during August, double the tally of seven for June and July.
Survival sometimes also comes at a high cost. Road crash injuries continue to multiply to the detriment of the Phuket community and its health system, with 9809 people admitted to hospitals as a result of road crash injuries in the period to the end of August.
Perhaps the case most reported in Phuket's English-language media is that of former British Royal Marine Steve ''Tommo'' Thomas, who came off a motorcycle and suffered severe injuries. He is one of many still fighting to fully recover their faculties.
The cost to the health system can be measured but the ripple-effect damage to families, friends and communities of the serious injuries in the road toll - most of them in motorcycle crashes - is incalculable.
If ever there was a compelling argument for a safe, efficient low-cost public transport system for Phuket, it's the enormous number of casualties that occur every month.
Make Phuket's roads safer and Phuket's doctors and nurses will have more time to deal with health issues that cannot be avoided.
Five drownings is the highest monthly tally for the year so far. The tally is usually recorded about the 25th of each month, so the latest monthly figure probably includes the drownings of a Russian and a Chinese tourist at Phuket's Karon beach in late July.
Probably also among the drownings is the woman who slipped and fell while on a walk down Phuket's iconic Cape Promthep before sunset. She could not reach safety, and would-be rescuers on the cliff above could not reach her.
By the time a boat did reach the area, she had drowned. It is believed measures have been taken to ensure rescue can arrive faster in future.
Phuketwan supports the Mothers or Motorcycles (MoM) road safety awareness campaign and 100 percent helmet usage for motorcycle riders.
Phuket Police Hit 'Jackpot': Tesco Sting Reveals Secret 400 Kilo Stash of MarijuanaTwo thirds of the way through 2011, a total of 86 deaths have been recorded on Phuket's roads with 25 drownings on or around Phuket.
These figures are similar to tallies for the same period of 2010, but a considerable improvement on 2009 when the respective figures were 114 road deaths and 41 drownings to the end of August.
Fourteen people were killed in crashes during August, double the tally of seven for June and July.
Survival sometimes also comes at a high cost. Road crash injuries continue to multiply to the detriment of the Phuket community and its health system, with 9809 people admitted to hospitals as a result of road crash injuries in the period to the end of August.
Perhaps the case most reported in Phuket's English-language media is that of former British Royal Marine Steve ''Tommo'' Thomas, who came off a motorcycle and suffered severe injuries. He is one of many still fighting to fully recover their faculties.
The cost to the health system can be measured but the ripple-effect damage to families, friends and communities of the serious injuries in the road toll - most of them in motorcycle crashes - is incalculable.
If ever there was a compelling argument for a safe, efficient low-cost public transport system for Phuket, it's the enormous number of casualties that occur every month.
Make Phuket's roads safer and Phuket's doctors and nurses will have more time to deal with health issues that cannot be avoided.
Five drownings is the highest monthly tally for the year so far. The tally is usually recorded about the 25th of each month, so the latest monthly figure probably includes the drownings of a Russian and a Chinese tourist at Phuket's Karon beach in late July.
Probably also among the drownings is the woman who slipped and fell while on a walk down Phuket's iconic Cape Promthep before sunset. She could not reach safety, and would-be rescuers on the cliff above could not reach her.
By the time a boat did reach the area, she had drowned. It is believed measures have been taken to ensure rescue can arrive faster in future.
Phuketwan supports the Mothers or Motorcycles (MoM) road safety awareness campaign and 100 percent helmet usage for motorcycle riders.
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Since I moved here permanently in 2003, road casualties have been reduced from approx 340 a year to today's approx 200 a year. In the same time frame amount of vehicles on Phuket roads have at least doubled. So ED, Phuket roads have been made safer. First of all safety has been improved for bikers with compulsory drivers lisence, use of daytime headlights and latest enforcement of helmet laws. However I agree, a basic public transportation is needed and would reduce traffic and increase safety.
Posted by katabeachbum on September 22, 2011 08:57
Editor Comment:
In fact, the annual road death toll is now around 130-140, katabeachbum, down from 200 in 2008-2009. Daytime headlights and helmets have certainly helped, along with periodic police crackdowns - Songkran has gone from being one of the most deadly times to be on the roads to one of the safest. It's a great achievement - but 15,000 hospital casualties a year on Phuket? Time to reduce the number of inexperienced and foolish young motorcycle riders, who are mostly the ones killed and maimed. Buses and a light rail would certainly save lives, and pain. Phuket does not need to continue killing its young.