Mon State experienced 794 vehicle accidents from January to December of 2016, with a prevalent increase in motorbike accidents.
Car seen damaged after crash in Belin
Township (Photo: KyeMon)
Of the 794 road accidents, 358 were car related, 416 involved motorbikes, and 20 were accidents on farm tractors. The accidents resulted in 317 deaths and 1289 people were injured.
“2016 has seen more road accidents. The reasons why there are more road accidents are because there are more vehicles in Mon state now and roads have improved. Since the roads are better now, motorists drive at high speed, and do not follow the road and vehicle rules while driving,” said U Htay Shwe, Deputy Police Chief of Traffic Police No. 12.
Car seen damaged after crash in Belin Township (Photo: KyeMon)
Of Mon state’s ten townships, Kyaikhto Township experienced the most road accidents with 148 crashes, followed by Thaton Township with 127, and Paung Township third with 121.
“Along the roads of strand, lower and upper, and Thaton bridge, there are people crossing over. Sometimes, during the traffic jams, when cars are stuck, the people have to walk and cross by. It would be more convenient for people to cross over if traffic officials and municipal officials cooperate and make zebra crossings and manage the traffic systematically,” said a resident of Mon State’s Capital Mawlamyine.
In 2013, there were 639 road accidents culminating from 212 deaths and 1087 injuries, 2014 saw 686 accidents with 262 deaths and 1236 injuries, and in 2015, there were 645 accidents with 266 deaths and 1102 injuries.
