Deputy head of the department Khamleck Xayasith told a pressconference on April 19 that 611 people were also injured and 589 vehiclesdamaged in 342 traffic accidents. The number of accidents represented ayear-on-year rise of 10%.
Khamleck said the main causes of the road accidents weredrunk-driving, speeding and sudden direction changes.
The traditional New Year is the most important festival in the Laocalendar. People enjoyed celebration activities across the Southeast Asiancountry this year after events were canceled or downsized for three years in arow due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the traffic police department has unveiled plansto improve road traffic safety during the holidays. Traffic police have been onduty nationwide to monitor and prevent traffic rule violations./.