Minister Anutin Reports Decrease in Deaths During Songkran, Urges Year-Round Vigilance

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of DDPM.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reported a significant decrease in road crashes, injuries, and fatalities during this year’s Songkran holiday period, crediting an integrated and proactive road safety campaign. Speaking at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), he stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure road safety across the country year-round.

 

Between 11 and 17 April, the seven-day intensive campaign period, the government recorded 1,538 road crashes, resulting in 1,495 injuries and 253 deaths. These figures reflect a notable improvement compared to previous years. Motorcycles were involved in over 84% of all incidents, with excessive speed and drink-driving identified as the primary causes.

 

Minister Anutin emphasised the collaborative efforts between national and local agencies, including traffic police, public health departments, and local volunteers. The strategy included increased roadside checks, rapid deployment safety units, zoning of high-risk areas, and the use of mobile units replacing static checkpoints. These targeted operations at Songkran event zones and water-play areas reportedly helped deter risky behaviour.

He praised the dedication of all frontline personnel and urged agencies to continue their vigilance beyond the holiday period. “While the Songkran safety campaign has concluded, the mission to protect lives on Thailand’s roads must continue,” Anutin said. He called on authorities at every level to analyse accident data and adjust local strategies accordingly. There will be a continued focus on reducing key risk factors such as speeding and failure to use safety gear, especially among motorcyclists.

 

Deputy Interior Minister Songsak Thongsri, chairing the Road Safety Subcommittee, echoed these sentiments. He urged all sectors to address motorcycle accidents and dangerous driving behaviour, such as speeding and alcohol consumption, through law enforcement and sustained public awareness campaigns. He also highlighted the importance of promoting safe vehicle use, driver education, and expanding insurance coverage.

 

DDPM Director-General Phasakorn Boonyalak urged all provinces to review accident data and challenges encountered during the campaign, and to propose actionable improvements. He also encouraged the public to take responsibility for their own safety, avoid high-risk behaviour, and adhere to traffic laws to reduce future tragedies.

On 17 April alone, 147 road crashes were reported, resulting in 145 injuries and 22 deaths. Most incidents occurred on straight roads, with highways and rural roads being the most dangerous. The worst-hit province that day was Phatthalung, which recorded the highest number of accidents (11) and injuries (11), while Nakhon Si Thammarat had the highest number of fatalities (3).

 

Among the most affected demographic were those aged 20 to 29, accounting for nearly 18% of injuries and deaths. Key accident periods included 18:00 –21:00, 09:00 –noon, and 15:00 –18:00.

 

Six provinces, Nakhon Nayok, Phichit, Phuket, Ranong, Satun, and Sing Buri – recorded no fatalities during the entire campaign. However, Phatthalung reported the highest total number of crashes (63) and injuries (61).

 

Authorities reaffirm their commitment to the national goal of reducing road traffic fatalities to fewer than 12 deaths per 100,000 people, in line with global safety benchmarks.

 

Related article:

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1358014-thailand’s-songkran-200-deaths-mark-7-dangerous-days-of-festival/

 

 

-- 2025-04-17

 

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

Anutin Charnvirakul has reported a significant decrease in road crashes, injuries, and fatalities during this year’s Songkran holiday period, crediting an integrated and proactive road safety campaign.

 

Or maybe, just maybe, lots of folk do not have any spare cash for fuel and booze.

[lordgrinz]

What a revelation, it's been said for many years, and even agreed to by Thailand when called out by the WHO for their abysmal record, still no progress.

[ikke1959]

Maybe lower  numbers but still too many.. and the numbers here can be trusted unfortunately.. Of course the are lower as the Government wants to shows that their efforts have results. But the reality is probably totally different

[newbee2022]

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Authorities reaffirm their commitment to the national goal of reducing road traffic fatalities to fewer than 12 deaths per 100,000 people, in line with global safety benchmarks.

And now tell us how you want to achieve this level, please?😳

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Anutin Charnvirakul has reported a significant decrease in road crashes, injuries, and fatalities during this year’s Songkran holiday period, crediting an integrated and proactive road safety campaign.

Sheer luck...

[Aussie999]

23 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Sheer luck...

Absolutely, or not reporting correct numbers.

[Peterphuket]

Always laughing with that man, if it wasn't so sad.

[fredwiggy]

As I noted before in another post, more traffic, more cars on the road, means less speeding, less accidents. Also, more people walking and throwing water means less drivers. Let's see what heppens in the following weeks. If it returns to the "normal" 60 a day dying, it means nothing has changed.

[watchcat]

21 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

What a revelation, it's been said for many years, and even agreed to by Thailand when called out by the WHO for their abysmal record, still no progress.

 

excactly they wan to keep the numbers down ehatever that would help. The drivers are the ones whos who are responsible to this mayhem.

[watchcat]

16 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

more traffic, more cars on the road, means less speeding, less accidents.

 Correct, but tailgating gets you and the driver behind you will get him looking for his machete?

[MalcolmB]

 good job Thailand.

 

Predictably the members here will deny it or claim it was luck, anything but the Thais actually did a good job. 

[kimamey]

The problem is the global benchmarks are probably achieved by having a properly functioning police force,  and a real driving test conducted around moving traffic rather than stationary cones.

Will they be up to tackling this?

[findlay13]

Delusional

[Felt 35]

Good job Thailand 👏... last time Songkran and New Year's accidents dropped drastically (2001) we had another T. at the helm🙄

[Will B Good]

Based on the figures below, great to see less deaths, but I would be hard pressed to argue they show a significant statistical decline in road deaths.

[watchcat]

On 4/18/2025 at 5:37 AM, Georgealbert said:

and the use of mobile units

 

Should be forbidden during driving, MC riders still do it, I have no sympathy for.

[JimHuaHin]

Rather than "urge", the very powerful Interior Minister should "demand" complete law and regulation enforcement under the threat of failure of a government officer's to carry out their duties that they be dismissed and imprisoned.  But TIT.

[watchcat]

On 4/18/2025 at 10:51 PM, ikke1959 said:

Maybe lower  numbers but still too many.. and the numbers here can be trusted unfortunately.. Of course the are lower as the Government wants to shows that their efforts have results. But the reality is probably totally different

 

Just wait for the next buss crach when people are coming home after the"festivities"

[pattjock]

Traffic in Thailand is actually very safe, if you exclude motorbikes. Motorbikes contribute to 80% to 90% of fatalities. If you exclude motorbike fatalities Thailand would be be among the safest nations in the world. Most European countries have a very small motorbike community and they are mostly pretty safe drivers.

 

In Thailand most vehicles are motorbikes. There seems to be no enforcement of any laws regarding motorbikes. Helmets are not used, in all neighboring countries you hardly ever see anyone driving a motorbike without a helmet. Pretty much all three wheel motorbikes, like food carts, are illegal. To have a license to to drive a motorbike seems optional, unless you are a tourist. By law you can only be two persons on a motorbike but you frequently see many more, especially if you are near a school where 3 to 4 students, without helmets, arrive without any  intervention from the school, police or parents. There are also numerous motorbike delivery drivers who take all sorts of illegal and dangerous shortcuts.

 

If the police could find the time to enforce the law regarding motorbikes the traffic fatalities in Thailand could easily be cut by 80%