Songkran celebrations turn sour: Over 100 lives lost, 1,000 injured in road accidents

[snoop1130]

People enjoy splashing water in Muang district of Phitsanulok yesterday. Picture courtesy of Chinnawat Singha

 

According to the Director General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Boontham Lertsukheekasem, 114 fatalities and 1,064 injuries were recorded due to road accidents nationwide during the Songkran holiday. Between Tuesday and Thursday, there were 1,055 traffic incidents leading to these casualties a report today revealed.

 

Chiang Mai, a province in the north, experienced the most accidents with 38 reported incidents. Bangkok saw the highest fatality rate with nine deaths. Chiang Mai, along with the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, had the highest count of injured individuals, with 40 each, according to Boontham.

 

Yesterday, 437 traffic accidents took place, causing 49 deaths and 448 injuries.

 

The primary cause for these accidents was speeding, which accounted for 37% of all traffic incidents. Driving under the influence followed closely behind, resulting in 29% of the accidents. A staggering 79% of these accidents involved motorcycles, Boontham highlighted.

 

Full Story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/road-accidents-during-songkran-result-in-114-fatalities

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-04-14

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[connda]

Nothing new.  It's the annual "7 days of death."

[pixelaoffy]

you wouldnt believe that Thai tv channels would be able to talk about people acting stupid throwing water at each other day after day ..but they do.. TIT

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, pixelaoffy said:

you wouldnt believe that Thai tv channels would be able to talk about people acting stupid throwing water at each other day after day ..but they do.. TIT

And members on Asean Now!  555

 

Does Thai TV put up death & accident numbers in sub titles every bulletin, in BIG writing? Answer will be NO.

Put their names and place of death. That could drive it home a bit...pun intended.

Edited April 14, 2023 by KannikaP

[Artisi]

Usual unbelievable normal out of control stupidity - and that's being kind. 

The whole of Australia recorded  about 16 deaths for the Easter weekend. 

Edited April 14, 2023 by Artisi

[StayinThailand2much]

22 minutes ago, pixelaoffy said:

you wouldnt believe that Thai tv channels would be able to talk about people acting stupid throwing water at each other day after day ..but they do.. TIT

Shooting or splashing water at motorbikes... Nuff said.

 

And yes, Thai TV only seems to report about ‘essential things’, like “Pretties” dancing in bikinis...

 

 

 

 

(This post was written to be understood as irony.)

Edited April 14, 2023 by StayinThailand2much

[Artisi]

1 minute ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Shooting or splashing water at motorbikes... Nuff said.

 

And yes, Thai TV only reports about ‘essential things’ like girls dancing in bikinis...

Well you don't consider road deaths an essential news item, do you? ????

[StayinThailand2much]

3 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Well you don't consider road deaths an essential news item, do you? ????

I wrote ‘essential ...’, meaning it sarcastically.

[RandiRona]

Is that any different than other days of the year? There is a reason Thailand is in top 10 list of countries with raod death, A survey they never seems to talk about. 

[pixelaoffy]

12 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

Is that any different than other days of the year? There is a reason Thailand is in top 10 list of countries with raod death, A survey they never seems to talk about. 

It is number 2 in the world as per head of the population...behind some African state 

[Denim]

Bound to be a worse this year than usual. Pent up desire to throw water at someone means they are really going for it this year. Tried to drive into town for medicine today at 5.00 pm. Had to turn around and go home. Huge traffic jam and water roadblocks where not allowed to pass without a drenching. Lots of gangs on motorcycles too so bound to be some fisticuffs later this evening.

 

Never mind. Early in the morning tomorrow should be easy. Won't leave home again until Monday.,

 

Strangely , people still wearing masks in Big C but nobody wearing one when throwing water. 

[NanLaew]

43 minutes ago, Artisi said:

Usual unbelievable normal out of control stupidity - and that's being kind. 

The whole of Australia recorded  about 16 deaths for the Easter weekend. 

In case you haven't notoiced, Thailand doesn't do Easter.

[BangkokReady]

Quote

Songkran celebrations turn sour

Everyone seems pretty happy and unphased as far as I can see.

[NanLaew]

32 minutes ago, pixelaoffy said:

It is number 2 in the world as per head of the population...behind some African state 

Yeah but they don't do Songkran in Namibia either.

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed.

[patman30]

every year (nearly) they post articles about song kran deaths
and then state average numbers...........????‍♂️

[blackshadow]

43 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Yeah but they don't do Songkran in Namibia either.

OR CHAD/MALI/ drc/ burkino faso !!!!

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, RandiRona said:

Is that any different than other days of the year? 

There isn't. 

The promotions and emphasis towards all things Songkran is part of the program. 

.....and most buy into the exaggerations, simply because it's repeated loud and often enough.

[anchadian]

I remember reading a report very similar to this about 23 yrs ago.  

 

Nothing will ever change regardless of whatever government rules Thailand.

[Forrests Father]

I am here since twenty years and i haven’t seen a lot of progress.

it’s just copy/paste from last year’s headlines 

1) Death toll on the roads during New year and Songkran 

2) Flooding in October 

3) Drought in June

4) Burning fields and high Pm2.5 levels from Feb to May.

5) for cases 1 to 4 we get promises and guidelines from politicians 

Happy New Year

[peter zwart]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

And yes, Thai TV only seems to report about ‘essential things’, like “Pretties” dancing in bikinis...

Thats why we here, isnt it?

[StayinThailand2much]

2 hours ago, peter zwart said:

Thats why we here, isnt it?

The ones I saw on TV weren't my cup of tea.

[jak2002003]

6 hours ago, pixelaoffy said:

It is number 2 in the world as per head of the population...behind some African state 

Wow.  The hub of road deaths and air pollution. (oh and plastic waste).  

[Dave67]

Its the lack of policing and the low tax (If any) for the richest in Thailand. The UK had 1400 drink driving fatalities due in 1979 and now 250

[webfact]

Third Day of Seven Deadly Days of Songkran in Thailand Accident Report

 

 

By Adam Judd

 

Thailand – A total of 437 road accidents, with 49 deaths and 448 injuries, were reported by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) on the third day of the Seven Days of Danger road safety campaign during Songkran.

On April 13th, there were 437 accidents with 49 deaths and 448 injuries. Most were caused by excessive speeding (37 percent). About 79 percent of the accidents involved motorcycles. Most road accidents occurred on local roads between 5:01 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

 

The province with the highest fatalities, accidents and injuries was in Nakhon Si Thammarat with 3 deaths, 19 road accidents and 19 injuries.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/14/third-day-of-seven-deadly-days-of-songkran-in-thailand-accident-report/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-04-15

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The primary cause for these accidents was speeding, which accounted for 37% of all traffic incidents. Driving under the influence followed closely behind, resulting in 29% of the accidents. A staggering 79% of these accidents involved motorcycles, Boontham highlighted.

Why would anyone expect anything different in anything goes Thailand?

[bbbbooboo]

Hmmm….. Every Songkhran is the same. Maybe someone should do something about it? TIT?

[2baht]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

On April 13th, there were 437 accidents with 49 deaths and 448 injuries.

Apart from that it was such fun! Sanook mak!

[digger70]

So what's so special about this ?  Nothing worse than a normal day in Los.

 

On average, 62 people are killed in crashes every day in Thailand, with motorbike riders and pedestrians most at risk.

[2baht]

1 hour ago, bbbbooboo said:

Every Songkhran is the same. Maybe someone should do something about it?

Nah! Let them have their fun!