For New Year 2026, the Accident Reduction Network issues a warning. "Don’t Drink and Drive." They advise preparing four essentials before traveling to ensure a safe return home.
On 24 Dec 2025, Mr. Prommin Kanthiya, Director of the Office of the Network for Accident Reduction (ONAR), stated that the New Year festival includes a continuous 7-day holiday period (from 30 Dec 2025 to 5 Jan 2026). This is a time when many people travel home and go on trips, requiring extra caution compared to normal times.
According to road safety data from the Road Safety Operations Center (RSOC) during the 7-day New Year 2025 festival, there were 1,930 accidents reported, causing 1,894 injuries and 311 deaths. Causes included drunk driving at 17.20%, speeding at 40.25%, and abrupt lane cutting at 20.18%. It was also found that 50% of road accident fatalities occurred within 5 to 10 kilometers from the victims’ homes or accommodations.
Mr. Prommin added that this New Year, he invites everyone to join the campaign. "Don’t Drink and Drive, Your Loved Ones Care." This is to emphasize the importance of not drinking and driving, ensuring safe journeys home.
Additionally, ONAR has communicated road accident risk reduction by raising awareness among drivers before and during the festival. They have produced media and monitoring data sets to support partner networks nationwide. They also deploy teams to monitor major accidents during the festival using daily RSOC data, creating video clips that highlight impacts, problems, causes, and recommendations to drive future road safety policies.
Drunk driving affects not only the driver but also many people behind them, with impacts divided into three stages:
1. Short term: Families may lose their head of household and source of income, especially if the driver is the primary breadwinner, leaving loved ones without leadership or support—an immediate and sharp impact.
2. Medium term: Financial burdens follow, including vehicle repairs, compensation for deceased parties, and medical expenses—an increased strain during a vulnerable time for the family.
3. Long term: If the drunk driver is at fault and the other party dies, lawsuits for compensation may extend to the driver’s spouse and children. Even if the driver dies, assets may need to be sold to compensate victims, sometimes leading to family collapse.
For those traveling long distances, the advice is to prepare the four essentials: 1. People: be well-rested with at least 6–8 hours of sleep, strictly avoid alcohol before driving, do not use phones while driving, wear helmets, and always fasten seat belts; 2. Vehicle: check vehicle condition before traveling, including brakes, tires and tire pressure, headlights, taillights, turn signals, engine oil, and emergency equipment like spare tires and flashlights; 3. Route: plan the route in advance, check for risk points and construction, monitor weather conditions, avoid peak traffic hours, and prepare rest stops every 2 hours or when feeling drowsy; 4. Timing and mindfulness: do not rush, avoid speeding, keep a safe distance from the car ahead, stay alert, obey traffic laws, and stop immediately if tired or sleepy.