The Golden Triangle Rider

[Davidfl]

The "farang" New Year break this year looks like being a good 'un.
With the 2 scheduled holidays of Dec 31st being a Saturday & Jan 1st being a Sunday, that means 2 days taken in lieu = a 4 day break from Sat 31st - Tues 3rd Jan 2006.
So traffic will be even more horrendous with thousands of Thai (Bangkok drivers) out on holidays touring North Thai to sample the cold weather, and early morning seas of fog from various mountain top vantage points.
The worst two places to ride will be
1. Doi Inthanon = routes 1009 & 1192
2. Phu Chi Fah = routes 1155 & 1093.
Last year there were traffic jams at both places, with traffic down to a single lane, and alternate periods of travel when you could go up & down the relevant roads!

So the tip is to stay right away from either of these places for at least the 4 break Dec 31 - Jan 3rd, unless you want to get stuck in a traffic jam!

Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[aikido]

Any idea what R1249 to Doi Angkang will be like over the holidays? Does it also become a parking lot like Inthanon and Phu Chi Fah?

[SilverhawkUSA]

Absolutley, in fact on the Thai TV tonight they were showing film from Angkhan. The hilltribes are having some type of celebration, plus, groups were delivering clothing and blankets. I am sure it will be crowded also.

Dave Early

Ever notice that "What the Heck!" is usually the right answer?

[admin]

It's that time of the year again.
New Year!
And two years on - you all ride carefully now.
The traffic will be even worse.

[SilverhawkUSA]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=124781

[tropicaljohno]

Went to Doi Tung today with Peter Warburton, traffic unbelievable, cars had to park about 3kms away and had songathews to ferry the people up to the gardens, glad we were on the bikes

off to Doi Mae Salong tomorrow, so hopefully quitened down a bit then

Happy New Year to you all
_________________
Cheers
T.J.

[Davidfl]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/01/02/headlines/headlines_30060876.php

262 DIE ON ROADS IN 1ST FOUR DAYS
The first four days of the so-called "seven dangerous days" of the New Year break saw 262 fatalities and 3,081 injuries on roads nationwide, a senior official said yesterday.Published on January 2, 2008

Deputy director-general of the Disease Control Department, Dr Seri Hongyok, announced that 2,823 road accidents occurred from Friday to Monday following a stepped-up campaign to promote safe driving.

The number of accidents during the four days was 38 (1.36 per cent) higher than in the same period in 2006.

But the number of road deaths was 13 (4.73 per cent) fewer than in the previous year.

The number of road injuries was 14 (0.46 per cent) lower than in 2006.

Chiang Rai had the highest number of road accidents and injuries. It recorded 102 accidents and 108 injuries, followed by Surin, which saw 91 accidents and 107 injuries.

Khon Kaen posted the highest death toll at 16, followed by Nakhon Pathom with 13 and Rayong with 11.

Mae Hong Son, Pattani, Narathiwat, Mukdahan, Satun, Ranong and Roi Et were yet to report road accidents during this period.

On Monday alone, 858 accidents were recorded nationwide, with 74 fatalities and 950 injuries, Seri said.

Drunk driving was the main cause of accidents, blamed for 46.97 per cent of cases. That was followed by speeding, which caused 24.13 per cent of accidents.

A vast majority of Monday's crashes involved motorcycles (85.42 per cent) and most accidents took place on secondary roads (about 70 per cent), he said.

The deadliest time when most crashes happened was from 4pm to 8pm (31.7 per cent), he added.

Some 1,702,437 vehicles were stopped at checkpoints nationwide and 50,185 motorists were found to have violated traffic laws - mostly for failing to show driving licences (34.31 per cent) and for not wearing helmets (32.62 per cent).

With many people returning to work in Bangkok during this period, the Road Safety Centre had contacted provincial authorities to set up checkpoints and service points along highways and secondary roads to curb violators, Seri said.

He also urged people to avoid driving at high speeds as well as refrain from taking the wheel if they felt tired or drowsy.

Both of Nakhon Ratchasima city's old and new bus terminals were packed with people headed for Bangkok since early yesterday morning.

Provincial transport official Chatchai Makkhawiman said there were 300 buses to provide 560 trips per day. In all, they could ferry about 24,000 passengers each day.

He advised commuters in the city to set out in the morning because people from outer districts and provinces tend to travel in the afternoons and evenings.
_________________
Davidfl
Keep The Power On

[SilverhawkUSA]

[Marco]

[Davidfl]

THE FINAL KILL: 401 DEAD!!

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=124863

The overall death toll from road accidents throughout Thailand reached 401 on Thursday, the last day of the ‘seven high risk travel days’ of the New Year's holiday, a senior official said Friday.


Deputy Interior Minister Bunyat Junsena, in his capacity as deputy director of the government-initiated Road Safety Centre (RSC) said that 354 road accidents took place nationwide on Thursday, causing 32 deaths and 389 injuries.


Drunken driving was a factor in most accidents and most accidents involved motorcycles, he said.


Total road accidents during the so-called ‘seven high risk travel days’ from December 28 through January 3 reached 4,475, up 19 from last year, while the number of people killed was 401, 48 victims less than 2006, while the total number injured was 4,903, down 40 from last year.


The northern province of Chiang Rai had the most accidents (157) and most injured (169), while Bangkok had 24 fatalities, highest among the country's 76 provinces.


The northeastern province of Yasothorn recorded the fewest accidents (3).


Provinces with no fatalities were Mae Hong Son, Pattani, and Narathiwat.


In an attempt to reduce both road accidents and the number of casualties during the New Year celebrations by at least 10 per cent from last year, the government established the RSC.


In operation through January 3, the centre aimed to reduce road accidents to 4,133 at most and the death toll to not more than 413, while the number of injuries was projected to reach 4,568 nationwide by the end of the seven-day holiday period.


After the press conference, Mr Banyat officially closed the RSC. Thanking all those involved in ensuring the safety of the public during the holiday, the deputy minister said he would apply the lessons learned from operating the centre this year to make more effective measures in the future
_________________
Davidfl
Keep The Power On