Suche
Mein Konto
Shocking results: 191 accidents on New Year's Day - So many dead and injured!
As of January 4, 2026, 191 traffic accidents were recorded in Thailand. Public Health Minister announces key statistics and safety measures.
Shocking results: 191 accidents on New Year's Day - So many dead and injured!
The turn of the year in Thailand brought not only celebrations but also an alarming record of traffic accidents. On January 4, 2026 there was the Minister of Public Health, พัฒนา พร้อมพัฒน์, the frightening numbers of New Year's accidents are known. During the “Drive Safely, Reduce Speed, Reduce Accidents” campaign, there were 191 road accidents in which 188 people were injured and 27 people lost their lives.
The main causes of these accidents are shocking: excessive speed was the culprit in 33.51% of cases, followed by risky overtaking, which accounted for 22.51%. What is particularly worrying is that motorcycles were involved in 72.62% of cases, highlighting the high risk of injury to two-wheeled drivers and passengers.
Where the accidents happened
Most accidents occurred on straight roads (84.82%) and the hotspots were clearly defined. Highways were particularly affected at 40.84%, followed by local roads at 31.41%. The peak times for accidents were between 9:01 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and between 12:01 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and during the evening rush hour between 6:01 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Particularly tragic: The most common injuries and deaths affected people between the ages of 20 and 29, who made up 16.28% of those affected. In terms of regional differences, the provinces had the highest number of accidents in Lampang, where 10 accidents were announced. Lampang also led the way in injuries with 10 injured, while Bangkok reported a sad figure of 3 deaths.
Long-term effects
A total of 1,185 traffic accidents were registered in Thailand from December 30, 2025 to January 3, 2026, in which 1,141 people were injured and 207 were fatal. Phuket stands out in these statistics with 47 accidents and 51 injuries, while Bangkok has the highest number of deaths with 18 in this period.
With many people returning to Bangkok and economically strong regions today, an increase in traffic is expected. For this reason, the ministry emphasizes the need for controls and strict enforcement of traffic rules: speed, alcohol consumption, helmet use, seat belts and drowsy driving are in focus. To deal with the situation, 10,723 emergency units are available nationwide.
Weather forecast and other precautionary measures
The weather forecast calls for thunderstorms in the south and flood warnings in central regions over the next 24 hours, which could put additional strain on the traffic situation on the way to Bangkok. Minister พัฒนา also assures that the emergency call center under the National Digital Emergency Call Service (NDEMS) works efficiently in order to be able to react in the best possible way in an emergency.
Alcohol inspection reviews over the New Year show that a total of 1,543 violations were identified out of 25,070 inspections. Among the alcohol tests conducted, 3.02% of those tested showed signs of impairment. This makes it all the more important to have ongoing medical and public health support, available around the clock and also monitoring the sale of alcohol to minors under the age of 20.