Sonkran Death Toll Rises To 236 After Four Days

[Jai Dee]

Road Safety Center concluded Songkran road death toll at 361

The Road Safety Center (RSC) concluded that accidents during the 7 dangerous days of the Songkran festival this year declined in fatalities but increased in quantity compared to last year.

Mr. Phongphoyom Wassaphoot (พงศ์โพยม วาศภูติ), the permanent-secretary of the Ministry of Interior, said that on April 17 alone there were 451 road accidents, which resulted in 43 deaths and 512 injuries. The prime cause of the accidents was drunk driving. As for the entire 7 dangerous days period from April 11-17, a total of 4,274 accidents occurred. This was a slight increase from the previous year. However the death toll, at 361, declined from last year, whereas the number of injuries increased slightly.

The main cause of road accidents during the period was drunk driving, followed by speeding. Motorcycles still rank as the vehicle group that contributed to the highest number of accidents, followed by pickup trucks. Straight segments of minor roads were the most prominent spots for road accidents. Khonkaen province had the highest number of accidents this year.

650,000 personnels were on duty to foster road safety during the 7-day period. 23,000 road checkpoints were erected nationwide.

According to the Ministry of Transport, 709 drivers of public transports were charged with inappropriate conduct.

The Public Health Ministry reported that emergency medicine protocol was used around 19,000 times during the period. It also reported that 30% of the 1,000 venues inspected for alcohol sales violated sales regulations.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 19 April 2007