Phuket —
Authorities in Phuket have launched a sweeping campaign to strengthen road and marine safety measures, wanting to curb accidents among residents, migrant workers, and tourists as the Songkran holiday approaches.
At a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Teerapong Chuaychoo, the provincial Road Safety Command Center (ศปถ.) reviewed accident data from January to March 2026, which revealed 54 fatalities. The most vulnerable group was young people aged 15–34, with hotspots concentrated in Srisunthorn, Chalong, and Wichit subdistricts.
Data analysis showed risky behaviors as the primary cause of accidents. Foreign tourists were frequently involved in nighttime crashes, often linked to unfamiliar routes and rented motorcycles, particularly large-engine bikes. Local residents, meanwhile, were prone to evening accidents caused by reckless maneuvers such as sudden U-turns or cutting across traffic. Phuket’s hilly terrain and winding roads further compounded the risks.
Officials stressed the need for proactive communication with migrant workers, urging strict helmet use and discouraging drunk driving. Agencies were instructed to conduct outreach directly in worker camps. District-level safety centers will also compile five years of accident data to identify patterns and guide targeted interventions.
Police have ordered every station to designate at least two “risk points” for focused enforcement. Rental vehicle operators and their customers, especially tourists, will face tighter scrutiny. Technology will play a central role, with the “Phuket Eye” system deployed to monitor and analyze traffic violations in real time.
