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| Emergency service personnel attend to an accident victim following a crash in Vientiane. |
Fewer Lao New Year road accidents, but 23 deaths reported
Fewer road traffic accidents were recorded during the Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) holiday compared to last year, according to the Traffic Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security.
However, despite the overall improvement, authorities said 23 people lost their lives in accidents across the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Director General of the Traffic Police Department, Colonel Khamsone Sidavong, gavea summary of nationwide road accident statistics for the period April 12-18. The data indicate a notable decrease in both accidents and casualties compared to last year.
A total of 228 road accidents were reported, 85 fewer than last year. The number of injuries also dropped significantly, with 362 people injured—159 fewer than in 2025. The number of fatalities also saw a slight decline, recorded at 23 compared to 26 in 2025.
While the national trend shows improvement, several provinces recorded relatively high accident rates. The capital Vientiane reported the highest number of fatalities, with six deaths from 32 accidents. Champasak province followed with five deaths from 16 accidents.
Vientiane province recorded 31 accidents resulting in two deaths, while Savannakhet province reported 31 accidents but no fatalities.
Police said reckless driving continues to be the primary cause of accidents, with drunk driving causing most accidents, followed closely by speeding and failure to comply with the traffic regulations.
Officials reiterated the importance of stricter law enforcement and driver awareness campaigns, particularly during public holidays. Lao New Year is one of the country’s busiest travel periods, making road safety a critical concern for both authorities and the public.
Although the reduction in accidents and casualties is a positive development, traffic police say more must be done to improve road safety. Law enforcement agencies plan to intensify monitoring and promote responsible driving to reduce preventable losses in the future.
By Times Reporters
(Latest UpdateApril 22, 2026)
