According to the Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security, 331 road accidents occurred across the country from October 3-16 resulting in 38 fatalities.
The department’s figures showed that 49 people were critically injured in the accidents, 168 were less seriously injured and 193 escaped with minor injuries.
Eleven vehicles were written off, 216 sustained moderate damage and 201 vehicles sustained minor damage.
Vientiane topped the list with 68 accidents and six fatalities, while 107 people were injured and 128 vehicles were damaged.
Police said the number of accidents was higher than usual because of several festivals and celebrations taking place around the country, especially boat racing festivals and events to mark the end of Buddhist Lent.
The Vientiane Traffic Police Department reported that a fatal accident occurred on October 19, when a Prado SUV and two motorbikes were involved in a collision on Sikhai Road in Sikhai village, Sikhottabong district. One of the motorbike riders, a 12-year-old schoolboy named Khaenly, from Sikhai-tha village in Sikhottabong district, was killed instantly while the other rider sustained moderate injuries.
On the same day, a motorbike travelling at high speed crashed into a house in Khualuang village, Sikhottabong district, resulting in several people being critically injured.
In another incident, the driver of a motorbike was killed when he was involved in a collision with a car on the Nongping to Nongbuek road, also in Sikhottabong district.
The Vientiane Rescue team reported that the two vehicles were travelling in the same direction when the car ran into the back of motorbike. The victim was named as Choun, 20, of Sikeuth village, Naxaithong district.
According to the Traffic Police Department, motorbikes were involved in 95 percent of the accidents, with 90 percent of those dying in accidents being male.
The number of road accidents continues to increase, with many people dying due to dangerous driving. About 90 percent of accidents involve drunken driving, speeding and other violations of the traffic rules. Many accidents occur at weekends and on special occasions when people get together to drink.
Source: Vientiane Times
