VIENTIANE: Twenty-three deaths due to road accidents were recorded across Laos during the 2026 Lao New Year celebrations from April 12 to 18, a decrease from the 26 fatalities reported in the same period last year, Lao News Agency said on Wednesday (April 22).
A total of 228 road accidents were recorded during this period, causing 362 injuries. Both figures also represented a year-on-year decline, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve road safety during the holiday period, according to the report.
The highest number of accidents was reported in the capital Vientiane, with 32 cases, including six fatalities.
Officials identified the main causes of the accidents as drunk driving, speeding, failure to yield, unsafe overtaking, and improper lane changes, urging the public to strictly follow traffic regulations.
Lao authorities are intensifying efforts to improve road infrastructure and reduce traffic accidents nationwide, in line with its National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which aims to cut traffic deaths and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2030. - Xinhua
