The number of drink-driving related accidents during the New Year countdown decreased by nearly 23% compared to last year's figure, according to the Public Health Ministry.
Citing the Disease Control Department's data, deputy permanent secretary for public health Prapon Tangsrikertikul said that during the so-called seven dangerous days from Dec 27 last year until Jan 2, drink-driving remained the top cause of road accidents (40.39%), followed by speeding (23.30%).
However, compared to New Year's Eve in 2017, the number of accidents caused by drink-driving on Dec 31, 2018, declined by 22.85%, while the number of deaths and injuries fell by 8.47%, Dr Prapon said.
This was probably due to the enforcement of additional road safety measures, which included the set-up of more breath-testing checkpoints, and speeding up the prosecution of offenders, he said.
He added that the Public Health Ministry has laid out a policy for all state hospitals to help the police to conduct blood alcohol level testing for motorists involved in road accidents and could not take breathalyser tests at the scene.
The Road Safety Fund, operated by the Land Transport Department provides financial support, will be used to cover the cost of the tests, Dr Prapon said.
From Dec 27 to Jan 2, a total of 1,582 motorists were sent for blood testing in hospitals.
Out of the 469 known results so far, 269 people were found to have exceeded the legal alcohol limit.
A total of 312 people aged below 20 also underwent the blood tests. Out of the 111 known results, 42 or 38% were found to have blood-alcohol concentrations that exceeded the legal limit, he said.
