Seven Deadly Days of Songkran Road Accident Update in Thailand

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Thailand – A total of 339 road accidents, with 36 deaths and 330 injuries, were reported by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) on the second day of the Seven Days of Danger road safety campaign during Songkran.

 

On April 12th, there were 339 accidents with 36 deaths and 330 injuries. Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent). About 83 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on local roads between 7:01 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

 

The province with the highest fatalities was in Bangkok with six deaths. The highest number of accidents were in Surat Thani with 14 accidents.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/14/seven-deadly-days-of-songkran-road-accidents-update/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-04-14

 

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[scubascuba3]

Need some decent comparisons i.e. normal daily accidents, otherwise it's just misleading info

[2baht]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

On April 12th, there were 339 accidents with 36 deaths and 330 injuries. Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent). About 83 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on local roads between 7:01 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

There's a pattern forming here, consistent over the past 25 years!

[it is what it is]

 

why does the media, persist with inaccurate reporting, statistically there is very little difference in the number of accidents during songkran compared to the rest of the year, in fact the number occasionally goes down.

[kwilco]

52 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Need some decent comparisons i.e. normal daily accidents, otherwise it's just misleading info

the generally used figure for daily DEATHS is around 60.

 

THe most common (mis?)-used statistic is deaths per 100k of population.

Most other relevant figures are either ignored or unavailable.

3 categories of injury - minor, serious fatal.

Deaths per 100k vehicles

Per mile travelled

traffic density

these and other factors give a far more accurate picture of the situation.

[kwilco]

36 minutes ago, 2baht said:

There's a pattern forming here, consistent over the past 25 years!

what do you consider the pattern to be?

[thai006]

Here we go again.   Year by year and nothing change 

[2baht]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

what do you consider the pattern to be?

Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent). About 83 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on local roads between 7:01.

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm…. And the slaughter begins

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Need some decent comparisons i.e. normal daily accidents, otherwise it's just misleading info

Even those numbers are manipulated to make them look good, it's anyones guess.

Edited April 14, 2023 by metisdead
28. You will not make changes to messages quoted from other members posts, except for purposes of shortening the quoted post.

[HuskerDo2]

2 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

why does the media, persist with inaccurate reporting, statistically there is very little difference in the number of accidents during songkran compared to the rest of the year, in fact the number occasionally goes down.

"why does the media, persist with inaccurate reporting".... so more people will listen to them and read their stories. It's all about viewership. The more negative the story the more people are interested. It's human nature unfortunately. 

[ikke1959]

Another successful story 36 deaths...... Last week we could read that the avarage of deaths till last week was 44 deaths a day.. So 8 less in the most dangerous days in the year.... Again prove that we are told stories 

[kennw]

1 hour ago, kwilco said:

what do you consider the pattern to be?

80%+ are/involve motor bikes. 

[Bangkok Barry]

2 hours ago, it is what it is said:

in fact the number occasionally goes down.

I haven't seen any report that says it increases. The media, though, plays mind games with us and by reporting daily figures it makes us think the numbers are up. Media manipulation.

[LEZZZA]

Let’s face it the vast majority of drivers and road users are selfish and aggressive let alone a lot of them drink and drive and have numerous other stimulants in there bodies 

it comes down to education

[metisdead]

An off topic deflection post about the crash rate in the UK and the replies have been removed.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, kwilco said:

Per mile travelled

They use KILOMETRES in Thailand. 555

[Tropposurfer]

The story/report highlights why we never drive any great distances in LOS. The road behaviour here, even locally, is so very dangerous indeed.

This is why we drive a solid, high safety rating, large SUV. No bikes here EVER now.

 

I've posted before, saying; Sadly despite wanting to enjoy road-trips and the wonderful scenery and local contacts and food along the way we just don't take the risk of doing so here.

 

We fly in-country to our destinations, and have on occasion gone by train for the enjoyment and relaxing slow mode it offers. We found the train to KL very enjoyable. 

 

 

 

[PB172111]

3 hours ago, it is what it is said:

 

why does the media, persist with inaccurate reporting, statistically there is very little difference in the number of accidents during songkran compared to the rest of the year, in fact the number occasionally goes down.

More traffic on the road, therefore more accidents. Fairly obvious.

[fittobethaied]

During the past 13 years I have observed several mothers and fathers teaching their underage children to drive a motorbike around our village, having no license and never wearing a helmet. From a very young age, they are being taught that rules and laws don't matter, so how else should we expect them to act when they become adults. 

[oldestswinger]

I think that I read some time ago that the figures for road deaths only include those dead at the scene. Anyone succumbing later, e.g. in hospital, is not included.

[BritScot]

3 hours ago, bbbbooboo said:

Hmmm…. And the slaughter begins

The slaughter never ends infact the deaths dip during the deadly days it's just the spotlight is shined on these days and compared to other "deadly days" on record. Isn't it also true that on average a third of those injured actually die from their injuries?

[mikebell]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Most were caused by excessive speeding (41 percent).

With CCTV this must be the easiest sin to eradicate yet RTP just bumble along getting OT payments for not very much during the holidays and no OT payments for doing the same during the rest of the year.

[BritScot]

1 minute ago, oldestswinger said:

I think that I read some time ago that the figures for road deaths only include those dead at the scene. Anyone succumbing later, e.g. in hospital, is not included.

Think a third of those injured die from their injuries maybe slightly more in Thailand figures.

[KhunBENQ]

6 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Need some decent comparisons i.e. normal daily accidents, otherwise it's just misleading info

The usual annual media show.

A number of 36 deaths is way below the average on other days before Covid.

It's not the seven deadly days it's just the seven days of jams/gridlocks.

Cars in endless jams/columns can involve in many heavy accidents.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, PB172111 said:

More traffic on the road, therefore more accidents. Fairly obvious.

Clearly no from the numbers. More traffic, slower traffic on average, jams and gridlocks.

 

Also not true for big cities in the west. Too much traffic does not cause deadly accidents.

More deadly on open rural highways (if one can speed).

[2baht]

5 hours ago, bbbbooboo said:

Hmmm…. And the slaughter begins

No, it continues!

[spidermike007]

5 hours ago, kwilco said:

the generally used figure for daily DEATHS is around 60.

 

THe most common (mis?)-used statistic is deaths per 100k of population.

Most other relevant figures are either ignored or unavailable.

3 categories of injury - minor, serious fatal.

Deaths per 100k vehicles

Per mile travelled

traffic density

these and other factors give a far more accurate picture of the situation.

Are the figures ignored, or is this just lazy reporting? Getting those figures would likely require some work, and some investigation, something most journalists don't do anymore! 

[shackleton]

Nothing changes same type of accidents. Speeding  Alcohol  not wearing a helmet on the motor bikes every year except the numbers ????

Hopefully a decrease this year ????

 

[Kerryd]

Accident stats worldwide are usually calculated using "per capita" stats. As in "50 deaths per 100,000 population". Easier than trying to calculate exact numbers based on different population numbers like 22,900 deaths out of 70,285,074 people. (Thailand's stats.)

For years, Thailand has ranked #1 or 2 in the world in number of traffic accidents (per capita) and number of deaths.

But the numbers lie. If they were honest, Thailand would rank so far ahead of everyone else they'd be in their own separate category.

For example, Thailand only counts "deaths" if they happen at the scene. If a person dies in the ambulance on the way to the hospital or at the hospital or a week later, it doesn't count against the accident stats.
And keep in mind that in many cases, the police don't even attend an accident so it's likely that a lot of people die and it's not reported until later (like when the victim arrives at the hospital or a relative informs the police).

Meanwhile, in Canada for example, anyone injured in a traffic accident that dies within 30 days (of accident-related injuries) counts towards the accident stats.

Now compare Thailand with an average of 60 deaths (at the scene) per day (22,900 per year) compared to Canada where 1,768 traffic fatalities in total were recorded in 2021, up from 1,745 in 2020. An average of about 5 per day.
Thailand has about twice as many people in Canada, condensed into a much smaller area. Huge number of motorcycles compared to Canada as well.

Thailand's lack of traffic enforcement is largely to blame for the stats. If they did their job properly, they'd cut those stats dramatically in a very short time.

Just like nowadays you see the majority of people riding on scooters (on the main roads and side roads) wearing helmets. It wasn't that many years ago that no one wore helmets anywhere.
Until the police started enforcing the law and fining people for not wearing them. Eventually almost everyone just started putting them on as soon as they got on their scooter.

It's not 100% but it's significantly better than before.

They announced a seatbelt law not long ago as well. Everyone in a car/truck is supposed to use a seatbelt now. Again, unless they start enforcing it and fining people, no one pays attention to the law.

But once they do start enforcing it and people start having to pay fines, you can bet they'll be buckling up every time they get into a vehicle.

Same for drunk driving. And running red lights at intersections. And speeding down roads at 40+ km/hr over the speed limit.

All of which contribute to those accident stats and all of which would be cut down if the Traffic Police just started enforcing the traffic laws.