Road accidents much higher than in 2017

[webfact]

Road accidents much higher than in 2017

By THE NATION

 

 

THE road death toll has reached 248, with 2,557 injured in 2,449 accidents during the first four days of the so-called seven dangerous Songkran days, the Road Safety Centre announced yesterday.

 

The figures marked an across-the-board increase over the same period last year, which saw 226 deaths, 2,457 injured and 2,385 road accidents.

 

On Saturday alone, there were 603 accidents, killing 57 people and injuring 626 others. Some 44 per cent of the road accidents stemmed from drunk driving and 26 per cent from speeding. A majority (80 per cent) of the crashes involved motorcycles, the centre said.

 

 

From April 11 to April 14, Chiang Mai reported the highest number of accidents – 99 – and the highest number of injuries – 109. Nakhon Ratchasima reported the most number of deaths – 17. Only eight provinces: Yala, Ranong, Lop Buri, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Nong Khai, Nong Bua Lamphu and Angthong did not report any deaths from road accidents during Songkran.

 

 

As many holidaymakers were expected to start their return journey to Bangkok and neighbouring provinces for work today, the authorities would emphasise on highway checkpoints, roadside service points, pit stops and ensure public transport drivers’ sobriety, the centre said.

 

Meanwhile, the National Council for Peace and Order and Army deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong reported yesterday that the authorities had seized a total of 7,067 vehicles from drunk drivers in the first four days of monitoring road accidents over the Songkran holidays. 

 

 

Apart from seizing 5,019 cars/trucks and 2,048 motorcycles from April 11 to 14 in an effort to enforce drunk-driving laws, the authorities also seized driver’s licences from 16,588 motorists and motorcyclists. The seized vehicles would be returned to the owners after the seven-day accident-monitoring period, she added. 

 

Colonel Sirichan reminded people that very hot weather was forecast for Sunday to Wednesday, with maximum temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius and summer storms expected in upper Thailand plus Bangkok and surrounding areas. She said the Army and related agencies would help affected residents where necessary.

 

 

National police deputy chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta, meanwhile, presided over an oath-taking rite in Samut Prakan province in which 380 drunk-driving offenders vowed not to repeat the offence, before listening to a monk’s sermon. They were then brought to court for legal action.

 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, expressed satisfaction with the emphasis on culture in Songkran events nationwide and the lower number of crimes reported during this period. He urged people playing in the water for too long in the hot sun to beware of heat stroke or pneumonia or other health problems, Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. 

 

 

Many holidaymakers continued to celebrate Songkran in their hometowns for the last day yesterday despite the hot weather. 

 

 

Phitsanulok province, where the mercury rose to 39 degrees Celsius, still saw many splashing water at designated zones while Uttaradit’s Muang district saw a five-kilometre-long congestion of Songkran revellers’ vehicles on Samranreun Road as they engaged in fun water wars. 

 

 

Meanwhile those in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, and Phayao made merit at temples for the auspicious beginning of the New Year, while people stood along a road section from the Tambon Wangka Market to the famous Utamanusorn Bridge (Mon Bridge) in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhlaburi district to offer alms to 199 monks.

 

 

As some started their journey back to the city, traffic police commander Pol Maj-General Theerasak Suriwong said police had arranged 20 shuttle vans to give a free ride to the returnees from the Mor Chit Bus Terminal to the Mor Chit and Victory Monument BTS train stations from 4am-9am and 4pm-8pm yesterday. 

 

In the mean time, Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith yesterday inspected the Doi Ruak hill area on Highway No 12 (Tak-Mae Sot) in the border province of Tak, after three major crashes killed 27 people in the past two weeks.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343230

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-16

[kannot]

who gives a s h i*................well not the Thais, they sure dont want to follow any rules except their bowing and kowtowing hierarchical nonsense

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The figures marked an across-the-board increase over the same period last year, which saw 226 deaths, 2,457 injured and 2,385 road accidents.

relatively bad and absolutely bad; evolved enough to handle moving vehicles ?

[mok199]

lawlessness + thais inability to stay awake + unprofessionalism = sum total ....its not rocket science..the rest of the world has some respect when they get behind the wheel ..in Thailand its Thunderdome...

[Jeremy50]

Though 25000, mostly testosterone fuelled young men on motorbikes dying on the road each year, will have a positive knock on effect on reducing population growth. If each of them were to have had 3 children, and each of the children 3 more..................................and so on.

[anon537687643]

So motorbike is seized because if an illegal act , drunk driving etc! Seven days later given back and that’s the punishment ! Does the country have any meaningful laws!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Lungstib]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, expressed satisfaction with the emphasis on culture in Songkran events nationwide and the lower number of crimes reported during this period.

The emphasis on culture in my far north village included such impressive bucket throwing that I witnessed 3 motorbikes downed, a girl in her underwear dancing provocatively on the back of a pick-up in the parade to the temple and inebriation to the point of speechless. Many will wake up clueless about what they did yesterday. 

[mikebell]

I was forced to watch the waste which is Songkran (90 minutes to do 500 metres on a necessary journey.)  Besides the waste of life and water, I was struck by the enormous waste of fuel as I watched my average kilometres to litre dwindle from 14 to 8; as I listened to diesel pickups roaring & belching black smoke onto the many pedestrians innocently taking part in this huge nonsensical celebration.  My ears hurt as gigantic speakers vibrated the whole car; as engines were revved to screaming point.  My overall impression was a primitive people at play.  

[Dibbler]

The government has to expect these figures if they refuse to proactively enforce road safety rules and impose meaningless fines on drunk drivers and people who ride motorcycles without helmets.  As no elected or non-elected Thailand government actually cares about its people, we can't expect the current policies to change anytime soon.

[thailand49]

1 hour ago, markaoffy said:

So motorbike is seized because if an illegal act , drunk driving etc! Seven days later given back and that’s the punishment ! Does the country have any meaningful laws!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

They do actually have meaningful laws but I think the problem is how to actually apply them? 

[NCC1701A]

Good job team Thailand!

 

#1 in the world in 2017 for road fatalities and well on the way to retaining the #1 spot in 2018!

 

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by NCC1701A

[MrJohnson]

Plenty of laws. No enforcement.

[neeray]

So much for the efforts to lower the carnage rate this Songkran. I guess the pleas fell on deaf ears. Oh well, another failed initiative. 

[Juan B Tong]

Miscreants be warned!

 

You may be punished and have to endure an oath-taking rite and may have to vow not to repeat the offence, and then have to listening to a monk’s sermon. 

 

Amnesty International and UNHRC have been notified.

[sammieuk1]

Claret streets the acceptable price of getting wet unfortunately.  

[dickjones2018]

red means go in this country... install cctv & fine people, the only way they eventually would ever learn

[stanleycoin]

1 hour ago, markaoffy said:

Does the country have any meaningful laws!
 

Yes there are meaningful Laws here.

No Vaping.

No smoking on the beach.

Meaningful and Sensible defamation laws.

 

Just to mention a few top important ones.

Get with the program man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 

 

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by stanleycoin

[kannot]

1 hour ago, Lungstib said:

The emphasis on culture in my far north village included such impressive bucket throwing that I witnessed 3 motorbikes downed, a girl in her underwear dancing provocatively on the back of a pick-up in the parade to the temple and inebriation to the point of speechless. Many will wake up clueless about what they did yesterday. 

photos  would really help esp the semi naked woman/girl etc etc. all for "research" obviously.

[whaleboneman]

2 hours ago, markaoffy said:

So motorbike is seized because if an illegal act , drunk driving etc! Seven days later given back and that’s the punishment ! Does the country have any meaningful laws!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Ya:   Don't go out without underpants.

         Cops can't wear sunglasses.

         Dogs can't poo outside.

[ChrisKC]

3 hours ago, kannot said:

who gives a s h i*................well not the Thais, they sure dont want to follow any rules except their bowing and kowtowing hierarchical nonsense

It's obvious to me that the Thai Government, and in particular those in Transport Safety Departments,  don't  understand the culture of its own people.

[djayz]

I'm glad to see that all their efforts, measures, warnings, etc. were so effective. 

Keep up the good work! 

With falling birth rates and rising death tolls, they might actually manage to eradicate themselves. 

Edited April 16, 2018 by djayz

[rickb]

Why do they even keep reporting these figures each year?  Obviously, the Thai people don't care and the government is doing nothing to improve the situation.  As said so many times before, enforcement of speeding laws and drink driving laws with stiff penalties is the only way to improve these statistics.  I personally think the problem is not just during the 7 deadly days of big holidays but is a problem all year long.  It's a pity the government just doesn't want to do anything meaningful to fix this major problem.

 

Edited April 16, 2018 by rickb

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, neeray said:

So much for the efforts to lower the carnage rate this Songkran. I guess the pleas fell on deaf ears. Oh well, another failed initiative. 

always does year on year....best o abolish the so called festival once and for all

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, stanleycoin said:

Yes there are meaningful Laws here.

No Vaping.

No smoking on the beach.

Meaningful and Sensible defamation laws.

 

Just to mention a few top important ones.

Get with the program man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 

 

 

no darts no connect four to be played !!

no alcohol to be sold on beach

no umbrellas on some days

what more can one ask for??

[CGW]

52 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Maybe the Junta is the best option for these stupid, stupid people ! 

I believe the "Junta" is doing all it can to keep it that way!

[essox essox]

1 hour ago, dickjones2018 said:

red means go in this country... install cctv & fine people, the only way they eventually would ever learn

but the fines are paltry so whats the point.....some time in clink and a life time ban for driving COULD be a detterant

[jesimps]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

I was forced to watch the waste which is Songkran (90 minutes to do 500 metres on a necessary journey.)  Besides the waste of life and water, I was struck by the enormous waste of fuel as I watched my average kilometres to litre dwindle from 14 to 8; as I listened to diesel pickups roaring & belching black smoke onto the many pedestrians innocently taking part in this huge nonsensical celebration.  My ears hurt as gigantic speakers vibrated the whole car; as engines were revved to screaming point.  My overall impression was a primitive people at play.  

Once more for the boys:   Children in adult bodies.

[Somchai Logic]

3 hours ago, markaoffy said:

So motorbike is seized because if an illegal act , drunk driving etc! Seven days later given back and that’s the punishment ! Does the country have any meaningful laws!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Yep, you beat me to it.

Drink and drive - Ma pen rai - get car back soon.

Complete waste of space these........... 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

My overall impression was a primitive people at play.  

 

Yes.

[SpeakeasyThai]

1 hour ago, MrJohnson said:

Plenty of laws. No enforcement.

Enforcement preoccupied with whisky indulgence.