Songkran highway death toll rises to 220 throughout Thailand

[george]

95 killed, 992 injured so far in Songkran road accidents

A total of 930 road accidents occurred during the first two days of this year's Songkran holiday, killing 95 people and injuring 992 others, the Road Safety Centre announced yesterday.

The Ministry of Transport' s deputy permanent secretary, Tawanrath Onnsiri, said the Interior Ministry's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, announced figures from the first days of the sevenday road accident monitoring period.

Drink driving and excessive speeding were the main causes of road accidents, he said.

The road accident on Saturday was 205 less than last year, with 272 fewer injuries, but the number of deaths was equal with 59.

The accidents were most frequent between 4pm and 8pm during the first two days of the holiday, taking place mainly on direct roads, especially in villages.

Nakhon Si Thammarat and Buriram had the highest accident toll at 27 each and the highest injuries toll at 26 each. Nakhon Ratchisima hadd the highest death toll at five.

The 3,028 checkpoints on main roads and highways stopped 716,317 vehicles and arrested 218,276 people, 18,232 for driving without a licence and 17,638 for not wearing a helmet, he said.

Tawanrath said however, he has ordered police and excise officials to strictly control the sale of alcohol from 11am to 2pm and 5pm to midnight. The sale of alcohol is prohibited for young people under the age of 20. Violators will face a fine of Bt 20,000 and imprisonment for one year.

-- The Nation 2009-04-13

[george]

Phuket Songkran marred by road deaths

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s Songkran celebrations have been marred by the deaths of two Thai citizens and one foreigner in motorcycle accidents.

Chotinrin Gerdsom of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said that over April 10-11 there were 11 road accidents, with 12 injuries and the death of an 18-year-old Thai man.

Ekkachai Jantuang died in hospital on April 11 after his motorcycle smashed into a pick-up truck in Thalang District the previous night. Mr Ekkachai was not wearing a helmet and was drunk at the time of the accident, Mr Chotinrin said.

There were another two fatalities yesterday morning, it was reported. At 2:30am, a Swedish citizen identified as “Claus” (surname unknown) was killed in Karon. The 45-year-old man, who was riding a motorcycle, died after he overshot a bend on Patak Road and his head hit the side of a drainage ditch.

At around 8:45am the same morning, a 39-year-old Thai woman was killed. Sawai Chamnan, from Khon Kaen province, lost control of her motorcycle and smashed into the concrete wall along Nanai Canal on Nanai Road Soi 8 in Patong.

Mr Chotinrin also announced the results of inspections at the nine major checkpoints established across the island for the Songkran period.

During April 10-11, the first two days of inspections, 6,824 people were stopped by police. Of these, 1,631 were found in violation of the law. A total of 666 were charged with driving without a license; 451 with failing to wear a safety helmet; 292 with failing to use a seatbelt; 122 with riding an unsafe motorcycle; and 100 with drink driving.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-04-13

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[jamesjdaly]

95 killed, 992 injured

What do they expect,:sympathy?? Not from my camp!

[maechanman]

I would consider this a very conservative estimate considering the number of incidents that go unreported.

[BigSnake]

I guess the good News here is that we are almost half way thur this long holiday, bad News still a lot of bad drivers, couple with drinking and driving, be safe all,return home safe.

[Miserere]

"95 Killed, 992 Injured So Far In Songkran Road Accidents"

Vs

Possibly 2 killed and 77 injured in poltical unrest.

One story is getting too much media attention and the other not enough!

[Asianrider]

usual madness.........let's fire a jet of water at someone riding a scooter carrying passengers & shopping !

[george]

UPDATE:

Songkran highway death toll rises to 220 throughout Thailand

BANGKOK: -- The total number of road accident victims throughout Thailand during the first four days of the ‘most dangerous seven days’ peak period of the Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, increased to 220, with 2,658 people injured, a senior public health ministry official said Tuesday.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Paichit Varachit told a press conference that on Monday alone 863 road accidents took place nationwide, with 81 persons dead in vehicular accidents and 940 injured.

The major reasons given for the road accidents were driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding, he said. Most of the accidents also involved motorcycles.

Dr. Paichit said the greatest number in any one province took place in Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northernmost with 102, followed by Nakhon Si Thammarat in the South with 94 incidents in the past four days.

Director-General Anucha Mokhaves of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said provincial authorities and Bangkok police were instructed to warn motorcyclists and passengers to strictly follow traffic rules as Songkran travellers start to return to the capital from upcountry on Wednesday, the final day of the celebrations.

Officials manning road checkpoints will take extra measures in areas where accidents take place frequently, Mr. Anucha.

-- TNA 2009-04-14

[PhilHarries]

<edit : SNIP George beat me to it >

Edited April 14, 2009 by PhilHarries

[onnut]

in the last 4 days I have driven 1200 kilometers, BKK- Khon Kaen and back, plus the daily trips while there and I did not see one accident which suprised me. i did see a lot more ambulances than normal though. just as many pricks driving around as well.

[sedeflonga]

I wonder howmany death's there are on 'normal' day. It would give some baseline to compare to.

[george]

This topic continues here:

220 deaths and 2,658 injured in first four dangerous days

Full story:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/220-Dead-2-6...ou-t257654.html