39 road deaths on first day of Songkran's 'seven dangerous days'
By Digital Media

BANGKOK, April 12 -- A total of 39 deaths and 342 injuries in 326 Thailand road accidents nationwide was reported on Thursday, the first day of the Songkran holiday's "seven dangerous days", Minister of Transport Chadchart Sittipunt said here on Friday.

Mr Chadchart said that according to statistics recorded by the Road Safety Centre, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on April 11, the first day of the seven day campaign to cut road accidents, there were 326 road accidents, 17 less than the first day of the previous year; 39 died, nine more than last year's daily record and 342 were injured, 31 less than last year.

Drunken driving remains the major cause of accidents at nearly one in three -- 29 per cent -- followed by speeding, he said.

The highest number of accidents on Thursday, 14, occurred equally in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat and the northern province of Chiang Mai followed by Nakhon Ratchasima with 13 accidents, he said.

Chiang Mai also saw the most injuries, with 17 people. MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2013-04-12

...and so it begins...

good job they banned booze huh

Thailands population control system seems to be working just fine for them.

39 killed on roads on 'first of seven dangerous Songkran days'
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A total of 39 deaths were reported killed in the road accidents on the first day of seven dangerous days of Songkran festival, the Road Safety Centre announced Friday.

On Thursday, the first day of the seven dangerous days, saw 39 deaths and 342 injuries in 326 road accidents, Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt told a press conference Friday.


-- The Nation 2013-04-12

Just keep off the roads til next week, you'll be fine

could happen anywhere.

RIP to all the lost souls of this annual festival. Sadly, many more will soon be joining you....

Many people say Songkran is fun, doesn't seem like fun to me!!

And we are off to a roaring start. Every year it is the same. Lack of law enforcement is the biggest problem. The police should be held accountable for their complete lack of interest in enforcing laws that are on the books.

could happen anywhere.

A thai apologist has chimed in.

That must bo a record or something or the least of.

could happen anywhere.

Yip, even Mars, Saturn or Uranus.....

Driving in Thailand on a normal day is bad enough, but during Songkran it becomes more dangerous; too many inexperienced drivers all in a hurry to get somewhere. These people drive without enough sleep, speeding, too much booze, and inferior driving skill. This is the formula for the high accident and death rate during Songkran each year. During these 7 days each year (Songkran), I stay home. Park the pickup, close the front gate, and lock it.

Much to my dismay I have to make a run from Chiang Mai down to Sukhothai tomorrow, were it not for a death in the family I'd be safely tucked up in my condo for the duration. So this morning I made a short run down to the supermarket to buy some bits and pieces, during that seven minute run through Watkate at 9:00am a drunk old man on his bicycle ran into the side of my new pickup and another drunk on a motorbike/sidecar fell off his machine in front of me and I had all on not to run him over! So, based on this mornings encounters, the next few days might prove to be a challenge. For those of you who have never been, rural Sukhothai province is a challege at the best of times with many rural farmers totally blasted most nights after 6pm, god only knows what it'll be like during the holiday!

March Madness in the US, Songkran in Thailand. We should start making office pools for the count. The officials make it like some kind of tournament or something. I admit that I myself am curious about the daily count. 100 baht on 350!

39 in one day is less than the daily average for the year.

Approx 20,000 / 365 = 54 per day.

After Songkran Yingluck will declare it a total succsess, as last year.

About as much fun as pulling teeth out

I used to hate the xxxxx smearing crap all over my vehicles and smiling as they destroyed my paintwork and wasted my time.

Limit it to 48 hours and you can avoid it. You cannot lock yourself up for 10 days each year because of this nonsense.

could happen anywhere.

A thai apologist has chimed in.

Darwin at work!!

could happen anywhere.

A thai apologist has chimed in.

It must be terrible waking up every morning in a country whose population you despise and not being able to do anything about it.

Let the under-reporting begin

less accidents but more deaths, go figure!!

good job they banned booze huh

Banned booze? Thats a joke. Was enjoying the watergames here in CM and booze was been freely sold in the bar.

People carrying beer bottles on the streets right in the middle of Thapea Gate.

All as usual.....

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Lambs to the slaughter!!

Yada Yada Yada. I thought the average death toll was over 50 per day?

I used to hate the xxxxx smearing crap all over my vehicles and smiling as they destroyed my paintwork and wasted my time.

Limit it to 48 hours and you can avoid it. You cannot lock yourself up for 10 days each year because of this nonsense.

Agreed. Why can't they restrict it to private property, too?

Maybe ? if a politician's child or family member becomes a "victim" and is killed by of one of these unlicensed,? inexperienced,? drunk,? speeding road users, as they are obviously not careful "drivers" who respect other road users. Then maybe they will enforce the law and bring some sanity to stop this genocide on the roads. But what dreams may come. ?????

39 in one day is less than the daily average for the year.

Approx 20,000 / 365 = 54 per day.

Actually a gov minister just a few weeks back said it was up to 26,000. So it's an even better improvement.