Motorbikes involved in 95 pct of road accidents in Laos

Motorbikes were involved in 95 percent of the accidents in Laos during Oct. 3-16, with 90 percent of those dying in accidents being male, according to Traffic Police Department under Lao Ministry of Public Security.

As many as 331 road accidents occurred across the country during the period, resulting in 38 fatalities. Meanwhile, 49 others were critically injured in the accidents, 168 people were less seriously injured and 193 sustained minor injuries, local Vientiane Times reported Sunday citing the department report.

Eleven vehicles were written off, 216 sustained moderate damage and 201 vehicles sustained minor damage. Capital Vientiane topped the list with 68 accidents and six fatalities, while 107 people were injured and 128 vehicles were damaged.

About 90 percent of accidents involve drunken driving, speeding and other violations of the traffic rules. Many accidents occur at weekends and on special occasions when people get together to drink, said the police department.

Police said the number of accidents during the period was higher than usual because of several festivals and celebrations taking place around the country, especially boat racing festivals and events to mark the end of Buddhist Lent.

The Vientiane Traffic Police Department reported that a fatal accident occurred Wednesday when a car and two motorbikes were involved in a collision in Sikhottabong district.

One of the motorbike riders, a 12-year-old schoolboy, was killed instantly while the other rider sustained moderate injuries.

On the same day, a motorbike travelling at high speed crashed into a house also in the district, resulting in several people being critically injured. Endit