Phuket road crashes killed 92 and injured 14,109 in first half of year

Phuket recorded 14,109 road crash casualties between Jan. 1 and July 4, including 92 deaths, according to Ministry of Public Health road injury surveillance data cited by road safety expert Dr Wiwat Seetamanotch.

The total included 7,238 outpatient cases and 6,871 inpatient admissions, underscoring what Dr Wiwat described as a persistent road safety crisis on the island.

Dr Wiwat, manager of Thailand’s WHO Road Safety Partnership Programme and Legal Development Programme, said motorcycles remain the main mode of transport for workers and tourists in Phuket because public transportation is insufficient. He said the main causes of fatal crashes are speeding and drunk driving, especially at night and among tourists.

He also said helmet use remains low among many of those injured or killed, with motorcycle users accounting for most serious casualties. Enforcement is particularly difficult in Patong, where heavy traffic continues into the early hours because of the area’s nightlife economy.

Beyond rider and driver behaviour, Dr Wiwat said Phuket’s road network increases the consequences of mistakes. Many of the island’s roads were built decades ago for lower traffic volumes but now cut through dense communities and busy tourism and commercial areas. He said the roads feature frequent intersections, mixed traffic, steep hills, sharp curves and elevation changes that create additional hazards, especially in wet weather.

Tourists and inexperienced riders are particularly vulnerable on downhill and slippery roads, where sudden braking while cornering or descending can lead to serious motorcycle crashes, he said. He also warned of risks from buses and heavy trucks on steep routes such as Patong Hill, where prolonged braking can lead to brake failure.

Dr Wiwat said stronger enforcement of speed limits, helmet laws and drink-driving regulations could reduce deaths and injuries by 30% to 40%. He added that correct and consistent helmet use alone could cut fatalities by dozens each year.

Provincial authorities are continuing to fund road safety measures. Officials approved 4 million baht for the Phuket Road Safety Fund for the 2026 fiscal year and are considering projects including awareness campaigns, safety improvements for public motorcycle taxi operators and passengers, expanded CCTV monitoring and helmet-promotion efforts.

Authorities also reported progress under the province’s "Safe & Seamless Phuket" initiative. Among the measures highlighted were permanent concrete U-turn facilities on Thepkrasattri Road, where officials said no fatalities were recorded in the four months after the work was completed. Further traffic-calming and road redesign projects are being considered for other parts of the island, including Patong, Phra Baramee Road, the Koh Siray Bridge approach and Pattana Road.