The Official 2008 Songkran Death Toll Begins

[Maejo Man]

Interior Minister to lay out road accident prevention measures if death toll exceeds expectation

- ThaiNews / 14-04-08

So they have a acceptable of death!!!

[sriracha john]

Day 3: 76 more road fatalities

The holiday death toll on the highways and city streets rose to 180 in the first three of the "seven dangerous days" of Songkran, the Road Safety Monitoring Centre announced on Monday. The Centre said there were 1,018 road accidents on Sunday, with 76 deaths, and 1,103 injuries. In addition to the 180 road fatalities in three days, another 2,514 people were injured, in a total of 2,238 accidents. The Centre continued to blame drink driving for the bulk of the accidents, but gave

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127104

[sriracha john]

a major source of injuries... and sometimes even, deaths...

Decline of a beautiful tradition

BANGKOK: The gentle and respectful practices of Songkran (Thailand’s Buddhist New Year) in the past have degenerated into a water-hurling frenzy that needs to be curbed because of the danger it poses.

Until it was taken over by hooligans many years ago, Songkran used to be a beautiful festival. It used to be that only small amounts of cool, perfumed water were sprinkled on family members and friends as a form of blessing to usher in the traditional Thai New Year.

Then some people came up with a not-so-nice idea: Why scatter droplets of water on the people you care about when you can go on a rampage drenching total strangers with buckets of water for laughs? Unfortunately, the practice caught on and Songkran is now known mainly for the water-throwing melee.

Some people went a step further. Instead of using water pistols or buckets of water in fun water battles with their neighbours, they started going around in pick-up trucks loaded with huge water containers to increase both the impact and range of their splashing.

That’s where the problem began. The throwing water on moving vehicles, including city buses, passenger cars and motorcycles, contributed to a sharp spike in road accidents during Songkran. Riders lose control of their motorcycles and crash because of water thrown at them, resulting in injury and sometimes even death.

Continues Here:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...6&sec=focus

[Cuban]

Chalerm also calls on motorcyclists to abide by traffic rules, wear a helmet, and not to drunk drive during the festival.

...he later went on to say that the rest of the year don't to worry about it - just keep 100 Baht handy in case the cops see you bare headed DUI.

[sriracha john]

BANGKOK -- The traditional Thai new year celebration, widely known as the Songkran water festival, continues to be a traffic nightmare for the authorities as 180 people were killed on the road in the first three days.

The Road Safety Centre said that on Sunday alone, 76 deaths and 1,103 injuries were recorded from 1,108 accidents throughout of the country, mostly involving motorcycles.

The number one cause of the accidents was driving while under the influence of alcohol, as well as speeding, the centre said.

Since Friday when hundreds of thousands of people started their journey to their home towns or holiday resorts throughout the country, authorities have reported total of 2,514 injuries from 2,238 accidents.

There were also many cases of injuries after drivers or motorcyclists lost control of their vehicles when people splashed water on them.

This prompted Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to propose that people who caused such accidents be arrested and charged.

Last year, almost 400 people died in road accidents during the 10-day holiday period, most of them related to alcohol consumption, but the number fell from the 476 deaths reported in 2006 and 522 in 2005.

The Songkran festival is widely celebrated by mainly Buddhists in the Kingdom of 63 million, as well as thousands of tourists and expats living in the country who took the opportunity to cool themselves by splashing water in the scorching hot weather.

Besides road accidents, authorities also reported many thefts and pick-pocket cases involving tourists in places such as Khao San Road, Rajdamnoen Nok and Sukhumvit Road where foreigners and locals joined the three-day water splashing celebrations.

- Bernama (Malaysia) / 04-14-08

[LeungKen]

It's only a suggestion ( far be it from me to tell senior memmbers how to suck eggs) but perhaps this thread should be merged with this one :-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=183450

[sriracha john]

-courtesy of 2bangkok.com

The Center reveals that 41.59% of accidents were caused by drunk driving

Alcohol Sales During Thailand's Songkran Festival To Rise 10-15%

BANGKOK - The sale of alcoholic beverages during the ongoing Songkran festival, Thailand's traditional New Year, is expected to rise to an estimated 3.1 Billion Baht , up 10-15 per cent in comparison to normal sales, according to a survey by Kasikorn Research Center.

- Asia Pulse / 04-14-08

[Naam]

first day tally stands at 45 DEAD and 557 INJURED

who cares?

[favre360]

My girlfriend interpreted a PSA for me I saw on a local TV station. Apparently if you get caught driving drunk your liscense is revoked (if you have one), you pay a 3,000B fine (if you didn't already bribe the officer), and they take you to the cadaver freezer to see what happens to other drunk drivers.

Alcohol is not the problem, people will always find a way to drink. Its the enforcement thats the issue. I just hope this holiday isn't banned because to be honest it is quite enjoyable.

[SINBAD64]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

[SINBAD64]

every day is Songkran in Nakhon Phanom-- you have to be drunk or out of your head to even think about driving in this area

[sriracha john]

even worse if you're in Phitsanulok....

Road Safety Center reports

Permanent Secretary for Justice and Member of the Road Safety Center, Charan Phakdithanakul, reported that Phitsanulok province has the highest death toll of 9, followed by Prachuap Khiri Khan which has 8, and that there are 15 provinces which have no report of death so far. The provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have the most injuries, according to the Permanent Secretary.

Charan says adolescents who violate laws will face legal charges with their parents and instructs officials to step up road accident prevention measures during 16.00 – 20.00 hrs. on minor roads for the rest of Songkran vacation.

- ThaiNews / 04-14-08

[sriracha john]

Casualties rising on long Thai New Years' holiday

BANGKOK – The number of people killed in road accidents during this year's Songkran New Year holiday on Sunday was 76 while 1,103 persons were injured, bringing the total number of deaths in first three days to 180 while the number of injured rose to 2,514, according to permanent secretary for Justice Charan Phakdithanakul.

The government has urged motorists to refrain from drunken driving and speeding during the "seven most dangerous days" ending April 17, as Songkran revellers headed for home to celebrate the Thai New Year with their families or leaving the capital for tourist destinations.

Mr. Charan, also a member of the government's Road Safety Centre (RSC), said most of the road accidents were caused by driving after having consumed alcohol together with speeding, and that the accidents mainly involved motorcycles.

Mr. Charan said he was optimistic that losses during Songkran festival this year would be less than last year's due to safety measures adopted by government agencies. *doesn't look likely to happen*

Meanwhile, Anucha Mokkhavesa, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said most of the road accidents in the past three days took place in the North and he asked provincial governors in the region to set up more checkpoints on highways.

As driving while intoxicated was the major cause of the accidents, the RSC was thinking of imposing a measure which would ban the sale of alcoholic drinks in areas where people celebrate the water splashing festival most, said Mr. Anucha.

- TNA / 14-04-08

[Maejo Man]

Charan says adolescents who violate laws will face legal charges with their parents and instructs officials to step up road accident prevention measures during 16.00 – 20.00 hrs. on minor roads for the rest of Songkran vacation.

- ThaiNews / 04-14-08

Exactly what officials is he referring to? He certainly can't mean the local wallopers, as I havn't seen one all weekend

[sriracha john]

Covering Days #1 and #2

Bangkok Post

Edited April 15, 2008 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

Death, injury toll soars above last year's figures

The roads have been even more deadly this year, with the death toll at the halfway period of the Songkran festival above last year's figure. Justice permanent secretary Jarun Pukditanakul said there were 1,018 accidents on Songkran day, Sunday, the third day of the seven-day most dangerous period. This was 5.5% up on last year. He said 76 people were killed (7% up) and 1,103 people injured (3.9% up). About 45% of the road accidents involved drink driving and 84% involved motorcycles. The highest number of accidents (39%) occurred on village roads. Most accidents (57%) happened at night, with 30% between 4pm and 8pm. Chiang Rai province recorded the highest number of accidents, 50, followed by Phetchabun province with 42. Chon Buri had the highest road death toll yesterday with five fatalities, and Chiang Mai saw the highest number of people injured in road accidents with 51. In the first three days, since April 11, there were 2,238 road accidents, 180 deaths and 2,514 injuries. All the stated figures are higher than last year at the same stage. The Thai Red Cross Society yesterday reported that it was running out of blood supplies. The society needs 1,500 units of blood daily during the Songkran festival, but received only 973 units on April 12 and 950 units on April 13.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Apr2008_news04.php

[sriracha john]

DAY #4 .... for Chiang Mai province only...

8 road fatalities and 111 injuries in Chiang Mai

On the first four days of the Songkran's Seven Dangerous Days (April 11th to 17th), the northern province of Chiang Mai encountered 93 road accidents, resulting in 8 fatalities and 111 injuries.

The Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center of Chiang Mai reports that many cases were caused by drunk driving, speeding, and unsafe driving habits, such as refusing to wear seatbelts and safety helmets. In addition, most of them involved motorcycles.

The Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Center of Chiang Mai is also planning to inspect the motorists more rigorously after acknowledging that more drivers have been found intoxicated during this year's Songkran Holiday.

- ThaiNews (today)

[sriracha john]

doesn't seem to be cutting down the death toll at all, but interesting they're using local equipment...

Breathalysers helping to cut road toll

A locally produced machine which tests drivers' alcohol levels is playing a big role as police crack down on drink driving, especially during the Songkran holiday. Drivers ordered to pull over by police during Songkran are initially being tested by the locally-produced SAM-05 breathalysers. About 100 of the locally-made devices have been distributed to roadside checkpoints across the country to help police in their campaign against drunk driving. Stopping drivers under the influence is one of the biggest challenges facing police during the so-called "seven-day dangerous period", which officially comes to an end on Thursday. Imported breathalysers remain the key pieces of equipment in the drink driving campaign, with the SAM-05 only playing a supporting role because of its limitations. The SAM-05's drawback is that it cannot produce the evidence needed by police to pursue their cases in court as it cannot print out a record of the alcohol level readings, said Adisorn Tuantranont, a lab director at the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre, who helped develop the SAM-05. He said the Screening Alcohol Meter should only be seen as a "pre-test machine", but should be of valuable help to police. After seeing the test results, police then use imported and more advanced breathalysers to print out the evidence, he said. Despite its limitations, at 8,000 baht apiece the SAM-05 has proven to be worth the money because it is five times cheaper than the imported machines.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Apr2008_news21.php

[sriracha john]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

DAY #4

49 killed, 801 injured in ?[unreported] road accidents on Monday

[sriracha john]

'Dangerous driving days' claim 229 lives

After four days of holiday traffic and road accidents, authorities have counted 229 deaths across the country, with 3,315 people injured. The figures were taken from Friday through Monday. Petchabun emerged as the province with the highest death toll so far with 11, followed by Rayong and

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127119

[Donnyboy]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

DAY #4

49 killed, 801 injured in ?[unreported] road accidents on Monday

this is really sad news~ will this carnage on the roads ever be solved?

[hanuman1]

Thanks for posting these statistics, but in order to put this 7-day period into proper perspective, does anyone have any corresponding figures for an average (non national holiday) day?

Since the standard of driving (drunk or sober) in Thailand is so poor usually anyway, I wonder just how wide the gap between holiday and non-holiday accidents/injuries/deaths really is.

H.

[Tony Clifton]

I believe the numbers, be it Songran or non holiday period, are totally false and way below the real statistics.

[sriracha john]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

DAY #4

49 killed, 801 injured in 711 road accidents on Monday

post updated to reflect number of Monday accidents...

[sriracha john]

some total year death and injury numbers... which reflects the high percentage that occurs just over the Songkran holidays...

3.7 Billion Baht proposal to make accident-prone highways safer

The Highways Department wants an extra 3.78 billion baht to make accident-prone spots on highways nationwide safer over the next three years. Department chief Nikorn Boonsri said the figure is based on highway accident statistics in 2006. In that year, there were 12,919 accidents on highways which left 1,647 people dead and 11,129 injured. There were 784 spots where at least three road accidents occurred. The most accidents, 513, occurred on a section of Suk Sawat road between Dao Khanong and Phra Chulachomklao Fort in Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan, followed by 228 accidents on Vibhavadi Rangsit road between the 6th and 20th kilometre markers, and 325 accidents on Sukhumvit road between Bang Na and Samut Prakan. Nikorn said junctions and curves were accident prone, as were U-turn flyovers, because their ramps exit into normal traffic lanes. The department planned to build new and bigger U-turn flyovers so that their ramps will land beside highways, he said. A conventional U-turn flyover costs about 70 million baht. A bigger one would cost about 30 million baht more, mainly because roadside land must be expropriated, he said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.net/News/16Apr2008_news06.php

=============

as per Post #35, for 2006, there were 476 deaths during Songkran, out of the total 1,647 for that year....

Edited April 16, 2008 by sriracha john

[sylviex]

Utterly staggering, and almost totally preventable.

Happy New Year .

[tijnebijn]

If those statistics are correct , it means that about 30% of all deaths occur

during the Songkran period , staggering indeed .

Like one poster pointed out , which I agree with , is that I doubt these are the correct

numbers given out . Where I live and drive I see several deadly accidents per year myself .

In a very small part of the country , no I would say the reality comes more close to tenfold the number

given out , and I am deadly serious about it !

Edited April 16, 2008 by tijnebijn

[sriracha john]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

DAY #4

49 killed, 801 injured in 711 road accidents on Monday

DAY #5

47 killed, 677 injured in 588 road accidents on Tuesday

[sriracha john]

Phitsanulok overtakes Phetchabun with highest road deaths

Five days into the “Dangerous Driving Days” campaign and 276 deaths were reported with 3,537 injuries between April 11-15. Phitsanulok province has the highest number of deaths with 15, overtaking Phetchabun province.

The main reason for these deaths was drunk-driving.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=127130

[stattointhailand]

DAY #1

45 killed, 557 injured in 447 road accidents on Friday

DAY #2

59 killed, 854 injured in 743 road accidents on Saturday

DAY #3

76 killed, 1,103 injured in 1,018 road accidents on Sunday

DAY #4

49 killed, 801 injured in 711 road accidents on Monday

DAY #5

47 killed, 677 injured in 588 road accidents on Tuesday

So what's the betting that there are only 84 more deaths "RECORDED" this year on the last 2 days, thus resulting in fewer deaths this year, a big "pat on the back" for the BIB and all our leaders,and everyone can go and get drunk to celebrate !!