59 Dead, 458 Injured in First Two Days of Songkran Holiday Travel, Bangkok Tops Fatalities

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of DDPM.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported statistics on the second day of Thailand’s Songkran holiday road safety campaign, with 59 people killed and 458 injured in road crashes nationwide.

 

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice and chair of the Songkran Road Safety Centre, revealed the figures during a press briefing held on 13 April. The campaign, under the banner “Drive Safely – Thailand Without Accidents,” is now in its second day and aims to reduce road fatalities and injuries during the traditional Thai New Year period.

 

On 12 April alone, there were 248 road accidents, resulting in 30 fatalities and 257 injuries. The most common causes were speeding (39.92%), drink-driving (22.18%), and abrupt lane cutting (20.97%). Motorcycles were involved in 85.77% of the accidents, with most occurring on straight roads (83.87%).

 

Highways accounted for 40.32% of incidents, followed by local roads within subdistricts and villages (33.87%) and rural roads (11.29%). The highest accident rates occurred during the time intervals of 15:01–18:00, 18:01–21:00, and 06:01–09:00. Victims aged 20–29 accounted for the largest age group affected (19.86%).

 

A total of 1,756 main checkpoints have been set up across the country, manned by 50,689 officers. Mukdahan province recorded the highest number of crashes (12), while Mukdahan and Lamphun had the highest number of injuries (13 each). Bangkok reported the highest death toll for a single province, with four fatalities on 12 April.

 

Between 11 and 12 April, there were 460 reported road crashes across the country, resulting in 59 deaths and 458 injuries. Mukdahan topped the list with the most crashes (23) and injuries (25), while Bangkok recorded the highest cumulative death toll (9). Forty-four provinces reported zero deaths.

 

Pol. Col. Tawee stressed that speeding and drink-driving remain the leading causes of fatalities. He urged all provinces to strictly enforce road safety laws and regulations, deploying multi-agency task forces and mobile inspection units to monitor risky behaviour, including drunk driving, speeding, and failure to wear safety gear.

 

The authorities are also cracking down on the illegal sale of alcohol, especially in Songkran celebration zones, and emphasised that underage alcohol sales will be prosecuted. Entertainment venues have been warned to operate strictly within legal hours.

 

Khajorn Srichavanont, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, underscored the importance of public awareness and safe road habits, urging provinces to use all available media channels to promote safe driving, traffic law compliance, and traditional, safe water play.

 

DDPM Director-General Phasakorn Boonyalak reminded the public that 13 April marks the peak of the Songkran holiday, when large numbers of people travel or participate in festivities. He called for increased caution during travel, proper vehicle checks, route planning, and safe water play practices.

 

Specifically, the public was warned against splashing water on motorcyclists, playing in the middle of roads, or riding in the back of pickup trucks, common but dangerous Songkran traditions that often lead to serious incidents.

 

Phasakorn also issued a weather alert, noting that storms, hail, strong winds, and lightning are expected in parts of the North, Northeast, Central region, and Bangkok from 13–14 April. He advised the public to avoid exposed areas, tall trees, unstable structures, and billboards during thunderstorms.

 

The Road Safety Centre continues to coordinate nationwide emergency response systems to ensure swift assistance in the event of road accidents, with efforts focused on enabling ambulances and emergency vehicles to reach crash scenes without delay.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1357592-ddpm-launches-five-point-road-safety-strategy-as-songkran-holiday-gets-underway/

 

-- 2025-04-13

 

[impulse]

That's an annualized rate of 10,775.  Seems like there's fewer deaths on holidays. 

 

Or is there a flaw in their count?

 

[IvorBiggun2]

Ban holidays in Thailand.

[safarimike11]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of DDPM.

 

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported statistics on the second day of Thailand’s Songkran holiday road safety campaign, with 59 people killed and 458 injured in road crashes nationwide.

 

Pol. Col. Tawee Sodsong, Minister of Justice and chair of the Songkran Road Safety Centre, revealed the figures during a press briefing held on 13 April. The campaign, under the banner “Drive Safely – Thailand Without Accidents,” is now in its second day and aims to reduce road fatalities and injuries during the traditional Thai New Year period.

 

 

On 12 April alone, there were 248 road accidents, resulting in 30 fatalities and 257 injuries. The most common causes were speeding (39.92%), drink-driving (22.18%), and abrupt lane cutting (20.97%). Motorcycles were involved in 85.77% of the accidents, with most occurring on straight roads (83.87%).

 

Highways accounted for 40.32% of incidents, followed by local roads within subdistricts and villages (33.87%) and rural roads (11.29%). The highest accident rates occurred during the time intervals of 15:01–18:00, 18:01–21:00, and 06:01–09:00. Victims aged 20–29 accounted for the largest age group affected (19.86%).

 

A total of 1,756 main checkpoints have been set up across the country, manned by 50,689 officers. Mukdahan province recorded the highest number of crashes (12), while Mukdahan and Lamphun had the highest number of injuries (13 each). Bangkok reported the highest death toll for a single province, with four fatalities on 12 April.

 

Between 11 and 12 April, there were 460 reported road crashes across the country, resulting in 59 deaths and 458 injuries. Mukdahan topped the list with the most crashes (23) and injuries (25), while Bangkok recorded the highest cumulative death toll (9). Forty-four provinces reported zero deaths.

 

Pol. Col. Tawee stressed that speeding and drink-driving remain the leading causes of fatalities. He urged all provinces to strictly enforce road safety laws and regulations, deploying multi-agency task forces and mobile inspection units to monitor risky behaviour, including drunk driving, speeding, and failure to wear safety gear.

 

The authorities are also cracking down on the illegal sale of alcohol, especially in Songkran celebration zones, and emphasised that underage alcohol sales will be prosecuted. Entertainment venues have been warned to operate strictly within legal hours.

 

Khajorn Srichavanont, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, underscored the importance of public awareness and safe road habits, urging provinces to use all available media channels to promote safe driving, traffic law compliance, and traditional, safe water play.

 

DDPM Director-General Phasakorn Boonyalak reminded the public that 13 April marks the peak of the Songkran holiday, when large numbers of people travel or participate in festivities. He called for increased caution during travel, proper vehicle checks, route planning, and safe water play practices.

 

Specifically, the public was warned against splashing water on motorcyclists, playing in the middle of roads, or riding in the back of pickup trucks, common but dangerous Songkran traditions that often lead to serious incidents.

 

Phasakorn also issued a weather alert, noting that storms, hail, strong winds, and lightning are expected in parts of the North, Northeast, Central region, and Bangkok from 13–14 April. He advised the public to avoid exposed areas, tall trees, unstable structures, and billboards during thunderstorms.

 

The Road Safety Centre continues to coordinate nationwide emergency response systems to ensure swift assistance in the event of road accidents, with efforts focused on enabling ambulances and emergency vehicles to reach crash scenes without delay.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1357592-ddpm-launches-five-point-road-safety-strategy-as-songkran-holiday-gets-underway/

 

-- 2025-04-13

 

I expect I am not alone in being thoroughly impressed with the percentage breakdown in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of this report.

[KhunBENQ]

31 minutes ago, impulse said:

That's an annualized rate of 10,775.  Seems like there's fewer deaths on holidays. 

 

Or is there a flaw in their count?

 

You are absolutely correct.

59 is below average.

The annual monkey theater.

For me the reasons are quite clear:

mass traffic on clogged roads moving slowly, no normal business day traffic.

And during the holidays also much less heavy trucks on the way.

(as far as I know there is even certain traffic on major roads prohibited)

On Friday evening a row of five heavy trucks (for road construction etc) came down the village road.

?

Wife says: they go park the vehicles for the holidays.

[KhunBENQ]

12 minutes ago, safarimike11 said:

I expect I am not alone in being thoroughly impressed with the percentage breakdown in the 3rd and 4th paragraphs of this report

They love their statistics and numbers.

Hardly a percentage broken down to less than two decimals (four digits).

Billions or millions of Baht down to a single Baht or even Satang.

Expected tourist numbers in the millions down to one digit.

Laughable.

 

85% two wheeler involved looks above average.

[nrasmussen]

5 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

They love their statistics and numbers.

Hardly a percentage in less than four digits.

 

Yes, it's complete nonsense to use four significant digits for the percentages.

[Ralf001]

41 minutes ago, impulse said:

That's an annualized rate of 10,775.  Seems like there's fewer deaths on holidays. 

 

 

 

 

Lower number on holidays is typical.

[ikke1959]

Many more but it must look good and show that the measures they announce are working... So unbelievable numbers now....

[kwilco]

Now is the opportunity for the expats on this forum to reinforce their bias with a load of bigoted comments about Thai people and display their total ignorance of road safety. Just because Thailand hasn't got it right doesn't make your opinions any more valid.

[Mentors65]

Songkran as usual. 

[brewsterbudgen]

4 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Ban holidays in Thailand.

The figures aren't very different from normal days!

[proton]

13 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Now is the opportunity for the expats on this forum to reinforce their bias with a load of bigoted comments about Thai people and display their total ignorance of road safety. Just because Thailand hasn't got it right doesn't make your opinions any more valid.

 

OK, almost the worst fatality figures in the world due to blatant stupidity, lack of real driving tests and ineffective policing. Thailand has not got it right.

[Sierra Tango]

14 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Now is the opportunity for the expats on this forum to reinforce their bias with a load of bigoted comments about Thai people and display their total ignorance of road safety. Just because Thailand hasn't got it right doesn't make your opinions any more valid.

Aah, excuse me but opinions are never valid or can be validated because they are opinions, not fact.

While I'm here, "total ignorance of road safety"? Please explain how you came to that conclusion and applied it in such a sweeping statement, denigrating everyone that may have the audacity to post / comment?

[Ralf001]

3 minutes ago, proton said:

 

OK, almost the worst fatality figures in the world due to blatant stupidity, lack of real driving tests and ineffective policing. Thailand has not got it right.

 

Thailand comes in at 47.

 

https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/road-traffic-accidents/by-country/

[blaze master]

8 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The figures aren't very different from normal days!

 

Ban Thailand. 

[blaze master]

5 minutes ago, Sierra Tango said:

Aah, excuse me but opinions are never valid or can be validated because they are opinions, not fact.

While I'm here, "total ignorance of road safety"? Please explain how you came to that conclusion and applied it in such a sweeping statement, denigrating everyone that may have the audacity to post / comment?

 

Uh oh. You just poked the bear. 

[Yellowtail]

Looking out the window on Songkran always reminds of what I like most about Thailand. 

 

 

[Yellowtail]

[proton]

21 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

 

Thailand comes in at 47.

 

https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/cause-of-death/road-traffic-accidents/by-country/

 

Depends who you believe 

[Jack1988]

Better stay at home, open air conditioning and make love

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Sierra Tango said:

Aah, excuse me but opinions are never valid or can be validated because they are opinions, not fact.

While I'm here, "total ignorance of road safety"? Please explain how you came to that conclusion and applied it in such a sweeping statement, denigrating everyone that may have the audacity to post / comment?

  

QED – when someone doesn’t actually have an argument they either start sealioning or regurgitate the old cliché "you're entitled to your own opinion" you are doing both! - this is so often nonsense as the person is not actually expressing an opinion but just baseless rubbish. The phrase "you're entitled to your own opinion" often gets thrown around as if it ends an argument or shields someone from criticism. But actually it's kind of a rhetorical smoke bomb to cover ignorance, isn't it?

 

Just because someone believes something doesn't mean it's valid. An opinion needs to be based on some degree of reasoning, evidence, or lived experience. If someone says, "The Earth is flat" — that’s not an opinion, that’s a demonstrably false statement s are most of the comments on road safety in Thailand. Dressing it up as “just my opinion” doesn’t protect it from being wrong.

 

"Entitled" doesn't mean immune – whilst everyone can hold their own beliefs, it doesn’t mean those beliefs are beyond challenge. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from critique. You’re entitled to say what you want, and others are equally entitled to call it nonsense – which is what people post on road safety  especially over Songkhran.

 

These cliches are often used to avoid accountability People use it to shut down uncomfortable conversations.

 E.g - "I think vaccines are a government conspiracy." "That’s not true, there’s overwhelming evidence otherwise." "Well, I’m entitled to my opinion."

This move turns a factual dispute into a matter of personal taste, like ice cream flavours — which it isn’t. Road safety is a public health issue and a science.

 

Most of all on ASEAN NOW talking about raod safety, it is no more  than a lazy escape hatch… it is used by people like you to  retreat from the conversation without actually defending their point or engaging meaningfully. Like saying, “I just feel that way” to dodge the hard work of thinking critically.

 

and thinking you are engaging in an argument by sealioning is equally invalid

[kwilco]

2 hours ago, proton said:

 

OK, almost the worst fatality figures in the world due to blatant stupidity, lack of real driving tests and ineffective policing. Thailand has not got it right.

Exactly as I predicted - a completely uniformed post by someone who doesn't know the first thing about road safety

[Sierra Tango]

25 minutes ago, kwilco said:

  

QED – when someone doesn’t actually have an argument they either start sealioning or regurgitate the old cliché "you're entitled to your own opinion" you are doing both! - this is so often nonsense as the person is not actually expressing an opinion but just baseless rubbish. The phrase "you're entitled to your own opinion" often gets thrown around as if it ends an argument or shields someone from criticism. But actually it's kind of a rhetorical smoke bomb to cover ignorance, isn't it?

 

Just because someone believes something doesn't mean it's valid. An opinion needs to be based on some degree of reasoning, evidence, or lived experience. If someone says, "The Earth is flat" — that’s not an opinion, that’s a demonstrably false statement s are most of the comments on road safety in Thailand. Dressing it up as “just my opinion” doesn’t protect it from being wrong.

 

"Entitled" doesn't mean immune – whilst everyone can hold their own beliefs, it doesn’t mean those beliefs are beyond challenge. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean freedom from critique. You’re entitled to say what you want, and others are equally entitled to call it nonsense – which is what people post on road safety  especially over Songkhran.

 

These cliches are often used to avoid accountability People use it to shut down uncomfortable conversations.

 E.g - "I think vaccines are a government conspiracy." "That’s not true, there’s overwhelming evidence otherwise." "Well, I’m entitled to my opinion."

This move turns a factual dispute into a matter of personal taste, like ice cream flavours — which it isn’t. Road safety is a public health issue and a science.

 

Most of all on ASEAN NOW talking about raod safety, it is no more  than a lazy escape hatch… it is used by people like you to  retreat from the conversation without actually defending their point or engaging meaningfully. Like saying, “I just feel that way” to dodge the hard work of thinking critically.

 

and thinking you are engaging in an argument by sealioning is equally invalid

I just feel that way

[GammaGlobulin]

7 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

They love their statistics and numbers.

Hardly a percentage broken down to less than two decimals (four digits).

Billions or millions of Baht down to a single Baht or even Satang.

Expected tourist numbers in the millions down to one digit.

Laughable.

 

85% two wheeler involved looks above average.

 

All numbers are significant here in Thailand, I guess.

Or, any single number is as significant as any other single number.

Or, they don't know which are significant, and so best to keep all that appear on their calculators.

 

[kwilco]

1 hour ago, Sierra Tango said:

I just feel that way

and there you go1

[still kicking]

And how many were injured and died in hospital?

[it is what it is]

9 hours ago, impulse said:

That's an annualized rate of 10,775.  Seems like there's fewer deaths on holidays. 

 

Or is there a flaw in their count?

 

 

nope, that's generally the picture. it's the media, and uninformed, who think the roads are any deadlier during holidays, the statistics clearly show this is not the case.

[PomPolo]

Went out with the family in a truck yesterday I was sitting in the front.
hundreds of trucks driving round with unsecured kids and adults in the back with big water barrels of ammunition hundreds of kids running into the main road so they can all throw water at each other while the truck is doing 50 come on what could possibly go wrong?

[kwilco]

43 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

Went out with the family in a truck yesterday I was sitting in the front.
hundreds of trucks driving round with unsecured kids and adults in the back with big water barrels of ammunition hundreds of kids running into the main road so they can all throw water at each other while the truck is doing 50 come on what could possibly go wrong?

Well they together with ALL other vehicles except 2-wheelers compric==se about 20% of all caualties - in fact on or in a 4-wheeled vehicle in Thailand you are LESS likely to dies than in the USA.