Bangkok Records Most Fatalities So Far During Songkran Holidays

[webfact]

Bangkok records most fatalities so far during Songkran holidays

By Sompoch Sombat,

Samatcha Hoonsara

The Nation

Khon Kaen

City tops toll with 7 deaths on day 3

Bangkok yesterday emerged as the province with the most traffic fatalities over the first three of the seven dangerous days of Songkran.

Across the country, 116 people were killed and 1,760 injured in 1,626 accidents, the Road Safety Centre (RSC) reported yesterday.

Meanwhile, in Khon Kaen, 23,204 tourists joined the rehearsal on Khao Niew Road for today's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest human waves.

An infrared counter placed at one side of an entrance to the road showed 10,334 people entering, while another machine on the other side showed 12,870, said Nirut Utha, director of the centre for limiting alcohol consumption. He is running the "Celebrate Songkran Alcohol-Free on the Road" campaign.

"We aim to beat the Human Waves NOAL World Record. Our record last year was 42,652 people," he said.

The venue was widened from 650 square metres to 800 sqm this year.

Crowd density averages 4.1 people per square metre.

Bangkok, meanwhile, topped the three-day death toll at seven. Chiang Rai was second with six deaths, and had the most injuries at 85, followed by Nakhon Si Thammarat with 82. Nakhon Si Thammarat had the most accidents at 78, trailed by Chiang Rai at 77. The death toll on Wednesday alone soared to 57, sharply higher than 29 and 30 on the first two days.

Permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry Dr Paijit Warachit told a RSC press conference that the spike in casualties was caused by motorcycle drivers cruising around drunk, helmet-less and speeding. Those who passed water-splashing areas were vulnerable.

The RSC told police and other provincial authorities manning checkpoints in water-splashing zones to strictly prevent possible accidents.

As rain is forecast for the whole country during the Songkran holiday, Paijit warned revellers not to splash water longer than four hours and children not to wear wet clothes for more than an hour. Also, they should avoid using iced or dirty water.

Compared to the first three days of celebrations last year, deaths were down by 50 or 30.1 per cent, injuries by 389 or 18.1 per cent and accidents by 368 or 18.4 per cent.

Paijit said most accidents resulted from drunk driving - 45.1 per cent - and not wearing a helmet - 32.7 per cent. Motorcycles were involved the most in accidents at 82.7 per cent.

Yesterday was also Family Day. In an annual opinion poll, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was voted by 47 per cent of respondents as the "model father" among politicians, followed by former prime minister Chuan Leekpai with 24 per cent and former Pheu Thai MP Chalerm Yoobamrung with 9 per cent.

In the actor category, Theeradej "Ken" Wongpuapan attracted 66 per cent of the votes for "model father". Lagging far behind were Sombat Methanee at 6 per cent and Chatchai Plengpanich at 4 per cent.

Noppadon Kannika, director of the Academic Network for Community Happiness Observation and Research at Assumption University, said the survey on the model family and father promotion campaign was conducted among people aged 12-30 in 1,320 households in Greater Bangkok from April 5-13. About 67 per cent said the prevention of domestic violence was the most recognised activity under the campaign, while 63 per cent cited encouraging fathers to abstain from vice and 59 per cent encouraging families to spend time together.

In a message on this occasion, Abhisit called on all Thais to improve their family, maintain the warmth of the family and observe His Majesty the King's sufficiency economy theory to strengthen society and mark the King's 84th birthday, according to www.thaigov.go.th and www.pm.go.th.

-- The Nation 2011-04-15

[rucker4012]

I'm not sure, but I believe Thailand during Songkran has more fatalities than Iraq & Afganistan combined!

[brahmburgers]

Darn, Chiang Rai usually has that accolade as having most deaths and injuries for Songkran. Shucks, we'll just have to try harder to get back to the top.

Well, at least anyone who likes driving through red traffic lights will still have free reign here in C.Rai. There has never been a traffic stop for going through red lights here, so it happens tens of thousands of times per hour.

Beat that, Bangkok.

Edited April 15, 2011 by brahmburgers

[lingyaiyai]

"Paijit said most accidents resulted from drunk driving - 45.1 per cent - and not wearing a helmet - 32.7 per cent."

Not wearing a helmet (whilst riding a motorcycle) is the greatest of follies, but I wonder what makes K Paijit think that it can cause accidents?

[ginjag]

"Paijit said most accidents resulted from drunk driving - 45.1 per cent - and not wearing a helmet - 32.7 per cent."

Not wearing a helmet (whilst riding a motorcycle) is the greatest of follies, but I wonder what makes K Paijit think that it can cause accidents?

Hey come on, Don't you realise how difficult it is to drink with a full face helmet on ?? :lol: Not wearing a crash hat causes so many accidents, because others lose concentration when noticing riders without. (such a rare event ) :lol:

10 mill persons BKK 7 died------------1 million Chiang Mai 6 die ????? then take the other cities with similar populations--add them up overall-these death figures are no where near the real total-----then take into account all the towns and villages, our town area had 2 deaths--x hundreds of other town in Thailand, I am sick to the stomach with these false figures that are pushed down the peoples throats, do they think were all NUTS.

[whybother]

Excellent reporting from the Nation - Two important related news events combined in the one article - road deaths in Bangkok and a world record attempt at a human wave.

[isanbirder]

Excellent reporting from the Nation - Two important related news events combined in the one article - road deaths in Bangkok and a world record attempt at a human wave.

Not to mention Khun Chalerm as a model father!!!!!

[KKvampire]

"Not to splash water more than 4 hours" Dont wear wet clothes more than an hour"\\

As if the idiots throwing water care. I come lose to being water bucketed and it was before 10am. One stern look and a "Mai Ow" was enough.

Saw 2 kids on a motorbike doing whats know as a "wheelie" , lifting the front wheel up and riding the back, problem was the road was very wet and they went down very heavily. Stupidy reigns now.

As the Dionne Warwick song says "Walk on by"

[zzaa09]

"Paijit said most accidents resulted from drunk driving - 45.1 per cent - and not wearing a helmet - 32.7 per cent."

Not wearing a helmet (whilst riding a motorcycle) is the greatest of follies, but I wonder what makes K Paijit think that it can cause accidents?

Hey come on, Don't you realise how difficult it is to drink with a full face helmet on ?? :lol: Not wearing a crash hat causes so many accidents, because others lose concentration when noticing riders without. (such a rare event ) :lol:

10 mill persons BKK 7 died------------1 million Chiang Mai 6 die ????? then take the other cities with similar populations--add them up overall-these death figures are no where near the real total-----then take into account all the towns and villages, our town area had 2 deaths--x hundreds of other town in Thailand, I am sick to the stomach with these false figures that are pushed down the peoples throats, do they think were all NUTS.

Not nuts, but given in to easy suggestion. It's a media event.......a competition.

[asiawatcher]

"Paijit said most accidents resulted from drunk driving - 45.1 per cent - and not wearing a helmet - 32.7 per cent."

Not wearing a helmet (whilst riding a motorcycle) is the greatest of follies, but I wonder what makes K Paijit think that it can cause accidents?

The quote is not 'cause' it is result!. Somehow Thai's think after being blinded by water thrown when not wearing a helmet and crashing (for whatever other reason - pissed out of their skulls) their heads will not be hurt.

Edited April 15, 2011 by sbk
derogatory generalization removed

[luckizuchinni]

"We aim to beat the Human Waves NOAL World Record. Our record last year was 42,652 people," he said.

The venue was widened from 650 square metres to 800 sqm this year.

Over 40,000 people in 800 sq meters? or the size of 20 condos rooms? 50 people per sq meter. Now that is packing them in!!!!!!

[Bagwan]

Quote :- Meanwhile, in Khon Kaen, 23,204 tourists joined the rehearsal on Khao Niew Road for today's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest human waves.

So all the locals stayed at home? How many 'tourists' were aliens?

Thailand now going to be the hub for human waves?

[sjjmmi]

Darn, Chiang Rai usually has that accolade as having most deaths and injuries for Songkran. Shucks, we'll just have to try harder to get back to the top.

Well, at least anyone who likes driving through red traffic lights will still have free reign here in C.Rai. There has never been a traffic stop for going through red lights here, so it happens tens of thousands of times per hour.

Beat that, Bangkok.

:cheesy: :cheesy:

[bangon04]

"We aim to beat the Human Waves NOAL World Record. Our record last year was 42,652 people," he said.

The venue was widened from 650 square metres to 800 sqm this year.

Over 40,000 people in 800 sq meters? or the size of 20 condos rooms? 50 people per sq meter. Now that is packing them in!!!!!!

"Crowd density averages 4.1 people per square metre."

Ahhhhh. You have to appreciate the benefits of a good Thai education, don't you? Allows you to spout any nonsense figures/statistics, and Thais will not call you on it.....

Especially useful if you are a Thai/Chinese rice/commodity dealer buying from Isaan farmers - multipying weight by cost per kilo by cost/quality by collection. Having a calculator can make you rich, and keep the peasants poor....