GENERAL NEWS - Monday 10 October 2005
ROAD SAFETY
Cellphones major cause of accidents
A third of motorcyclists injured in road accidents admit to using mobile phones when riding their bikes, Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenratanakul said. About 600,000 motorcyclists were admitted to hospital last year, or more than 1,600 a day.
Half had not been wearing a crash helmet.
Motorcyclists made up the biggest number of road fatalities, averaging one death per hour among adults and 1.5 deaths per hour among children under 15.
New forms of risky behaviour, including talking on a mobile phone while riding a motorcycle, were blamed for many of the accidents.
This was particularly prevalent in the provinces of Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Songkhla, he said.
Other accident causes included speeding and riding on the wrong side of the road, he said.
Topic: Cellphones major cause of motorcycle accidents/THAILAND (Read 2091 times)