253 Dead In Road Accidents In First Five Days Of Songkran

[webfact]

253 dead in road accidents in first five days of Songkran

BANGKOK, April 16 – Thailand’s holiday death toll reached 253 in road accidents throughout the country through the first five days of the Songkran holidays April 11-17, according to the Road Safety Centre of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Cumulative road accidents through Sunday reached 2,581 with 2,751 persons injured.

On Sunday alone, there were 447 road accidents, killing 43 people and injuring 463 others.

Overall, the most fatalities were reported in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani with 10 deaths each, while the highest number of injured was seen in Chiang Rai at 106.

No accidents were reported in Nong Bua Lam Phu and no casualties were reported in 12 provinces -- Kamphang Phet, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Chon Buri, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Trat, Trang, Pattani, Yala, Ranong and Satun.

Drunken driving continues to be a major cause of road accidents with alcohol consumption a factor in 42 per cent of the registered accidents, followed by speeding at 21 per cent.

Motorcycles are the vehicle type credited with causing or otherwise being involved in the highest number of accidents at 83 per cent, followed by pickup trucks with 12 per cent.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said on Monday that as many as 250,000 people are expected to return to the capital by bus today after celebrating the long traditional Songkran new year holiday with their families upcountry.

The minister said he instructed the government-operated Transport Company to provide sufficient services and coordinate with other agencies to accommodate the unusually large number of passengers.

Meanwhile, the capital's Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal and Hua Lampong central railway station are crowded with heavy traffic reported on Phetkasem and Mitraphap roads to the South and Northeast. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-04-16

[Pond Life]

The hub of Darwin awards !

[webfact]

WATER FESTIVAL

Deaths in road accidents higher than last Songkran but injuries down

The Nation

Nakhon Sawan

BANGKOK: -- The first five days of the Songkran period (April 11-15) saw 253 deaths and 2,751 injuries in 2,581 road accidents. The number of deaths was higher than the same period last year, in which 188 individuals died and 2,786 were injured in 2,584 accidents.

The Road Safety Center said drunk driving remained the major cause of accidents. Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat came top with 10 deaths each and Chiang Rai reported the most cumulative injuries at 106 persons and the most cumulative accidents at 106 incidents.

Although there were more deaths than over last Songkran, Anusorn Eiamsaard, acting government spokesman, said on Monday that the number of injuries and road accidents were actually down from last year.

Twelve provinces had zero deaths from road accidents, namely Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu, Chon Buri, Trat, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Trang, Pattani, Yala, Ranong and Satun. Anusorn said the government's "Songkran Plodpai Tai Pen Soon" (Safe Songkran with 0 death rate) campaign - which includes promoting public awareness of Songkran road casualties, stricter implementation of traffic laws and the setting up of checkpoints to stop drunk driving - has succeeded in lowering the number of accidents and hence made considerable savings in the public health budget.

Saying the government would continue its road safety campaign for various Thai holidays, Anusorn expressed the wish that all Songkran holidaymakers returned home safely.

At the Road Safety Center, Probation Department deputy chief Kasem Moonchan said, on April 15 alone 477 accidents claimed 43 lives and wounded 463 others - compared to the April 15 last year, which saw 443 accidents that killed 40 people and wounded 2,786 others. Drunk driving was the major cause at 42.28 per cent followed by speeding at 21.70 per cent. Most accidents (83.12 per cent) involved motorcycles.

-- The Nation 2012-04-16

[nickjam]

"Motorcycles are the vehicle type credited with causing or otherwise being involved in the highest number of accidents at 83 per cent, followed by pickup trucks with 12 per cent". 100% of the accidents were caused by people thinking that drunk driving and aggressive, irresponsible throwing of water into drivers faces is fine and dandy for 3 days. Not surprised Chiang Rai topped the lists again, we need more traffic to slow people down! RIP to the dead

[transam]

Seems the PM's predictions didn't quite work out eh. Perhaps some will now lose their jobs, but l don't think so.

[exeter]

Is Songkran on the road an arcade game, where everyone just gets up and carries on for another game, or is it really game over?

[MEL1]

Is Songkran on the road an arcade game, where everyone just gets up and carries on for another game, or is it really game over?

Copyright and patent pending as of now.

New school iPAD game for Grade 1.

"Songkran killer"

Rules:

1. You choose to be a waterside road water thrower, or 2. a 4X4 drunk driver, or 3. in a group on a motorcycle high as kites.

4. You have to kill as many people as possible.

5. There are secret rules for each player choosing 1 , 2 or 3.

6. If you choose 1 you have to earn tree branches or cones to slow fast moving traffic at random. The more chance of randomness, the better chance of your killing your opposition.

7. If you choose 2, you get extra points for filling up with gas, and simoultaneously buying beer and Lao Whisky at a filling station. The better you swerve the better are your chances of killing 1 or 3.

8. Get high on Ya-Ba, get as many mates on your bike as you can, and swerve as well as you can. If you choose 3 you are a loser before the game begins.

Copyright.... mel. 2556.

[Nisa]

Deaths in road accidents higher than last Songkran

Worth noting that deaths (271) last year were down 25% from the previous year which death toll (361) numbers were down 12% from its previous year.

Ballpark averages (12,800 road deaths per year & est. 335 total this year ) would put the death rate at around 11 extra people per day in the entire country during the 7-days of Songkran over the last 3-years.

[BrianCR]

Seems the PM's predictions didn't quite work out eh. Perhaps some will now lose their jobs, but l don't think so.

Can you please grow up? The PM is NOT responsible for riding her motorcycle whilst drunk!!!!

[BrianCR]

Is Songkran on the road an arcade game, where everyone just gets up and carries on for another game, or is it really game over?

Copyright and patent pending as of now.

New school iPAD game for Grade 1.

"Songkran killer"

Rules:

1. You choose to be a waterside road water thrower, or 2. a 4X4 drunk driver, or 3. in a group on a motorcycle high as kites.

4. You have to kill as many people as possible.

5. There are secret rules for each player choosing 1 , 2 or 3.

6. If you choose 1 you have to earn tree branches or cones to slow fast moving traffic at random. The more chance of randomness, the better chance of your killing your opposition.

7. If you choose 2, you get extra points for filling up with gas, and simoultaneously buying beer and Lao Whisky at a filling station. The better you swerve the better are your chances of killing 1 or 3.

8. Get high on Ya-Ba, get as many mates on your bike as you can, and swerve as well as you can. If you choose 3 you are a loser before the game begins.

Copyright.... mel. 2556.

Grow up!!

[mowgus]

A friend and I were discussing all the accidents and the craziness to try and make some sense of it. What we came up with was that, unless you're Thai, you just won't understand it. It seems like the Thai attitude is to live life to the fullest and enjoy everything while you can. Screw the consequences. And hey, it's what makes Thailand all kinds of awesome. You simply couldn't have anything remotely like Songkran in Western nations. It would be regulated to the point where all fun would be sucked out of it.

Now, I'm not saying it's ok for people to be hurt and killed (sometimes by no fault of their own). But TIT and you have to think like a Thai!

Incidentally, in Chiang Mai, the law enforcement seemed absent. There was an alcohol ban around the moat and I got a good laugh when I saw the lady selling cans of beer right beside Thapae gate. Over the weekend I saw a police check point only once. And they just waved me through (maybe because I'm farang and was wearing a helmet).

[BrianCR]

Jesus! What the hell is the matter with you people - Viagra or beer has become too expensive, so you got to take it out on everybody? You forever criticize Thailand, what a boring life you must lead!!

[barefoot1988]

A friend and I were discussing all the accidents and the craziness to try and make some sense of it. What we came up with was that, unless you're Thai, you just won't understand it. It seems like the Thai attitude is to live life to the fullest and enjoy everything while you can. Screw the consequences. And hey, it's what makes Thailand all kinds of awesome. You simply couldn't have anything remotely like Songkran in Western nations. It would be regulated to the point where all fun would be sucked out of it.

Now, I'm not saying it's ok for people to be hurt and killed (sometimes by no fault of their own). But TIT and you have to think like a Thai!

Drink driving, reckless driving and all sort of nonsense aren't living one's life to fullest imo. Of course to someone it could be extremely thrilling and rewarding but to me its means having no sense of social responsibility. Extremely Selfish.

[Woodcaulk]

Jesus! What the hell is the matter with you people - Viagra or beer has become too expensive, so you got to take it out on everybody? You forever criticize Thailand, what a boring life you must lead!!

And just what pinnacle of productivity did you reach by criticizing those who you believe are overly critical....whatever it is it was probably boring