173 Deaths In First Three Days Of Songkran

[Lite Beer]

Road Accident Figures Update

173 deaths, 1,526 injuries in 1st three of seven dangerous days during Songkran holiday, most deaths (5) recorded in Prachuap Khiri Khan

-- TNA 2013-04-14

[Boater]

I thought it was supposed to be 0

[lucky2103]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Edited April 14, 2013 by lucky2103

[Toscano]

My son-in-law is a registrar of births and deaths at Bangkok . He has not been able to take time off for Songkan for the expected heavy load of work in his department , registering deaths .

[nuananddon]

That is really sad. Every year the same old story.

[DowntownAl]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Google "holiday death statistics" The toll here is relatively small when compared to other countries, for example, the 8 day new years period in South Africa this year, over 1,400 died. The US has over 45,000 vehicle deaths every year (about 5 times the population than Thailand).

[kaptainrob]

~ 80% of all fatalities are motorbike rider/passengers.

[AlphMichaels]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

[Joop50]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Google "holiday death statistics" The toll here is relatively small when compared to other countries, for example, the 8 day new years period in South Africa this year, over 1,400 died. The US has over 45,000 vehicle deaths every year (about 5 times the population than Thailand).

Figures from Thailand last year: more than 26000 death, around 19000 motorbike victims.

[Travel2003]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Why stop there?

Ban alcohol as well.

[PaulHamon]

What's STUPID is the '7 deadly days' are about the same as the annual daily average.

173/3 = 57 per day * 365 in a year = 20,805 per year.

I've read annual numbers ranging from 16,000 to 27,00 depending on how you cacluate 'road death'.

From my understand if you don't die at the scene of the accident but later in hospital, it's not counted in the ROAD TOLL. so the REAL number is much, much higher than the OFFICAL number.

[NoshowJones]

~ 80% of all fatalities are motorbike rider/passengers.

How many of these fatalities are caused by stupid people throwing water at passing motorcyclists? I would love to know.

[NoshowJones]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Better still, ban people from throwing water at passing vehicles, but this being Thailand they won't.

[Globeman]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Ban all motorbikes? That's a bit like banning women from the streets at night to prevent rape. How about enforcing drunk driving laws with police checkpoints? ... and banning the marauding water trucks whose drunken occupants think it is good fun to hurl a bucket of water into the face of an oncoming motorcyclist?

[Nobelcat]

I've been driving around all weekend on my motorbike in Chiang Mai. Sure, I get about 30 buckets dumped on me, and even some good hits when traveling 60-80km/hr on my way down to Hang Dong, but nothing much worse than a slight push. Bike actually seems more stable from hits when I'm going faster, though my side might not agree

Best one was when a Thai walked out into the middle of the Super Highway here to make sure I can came to a stop. I was having fun, so I didn't bother to go around him. He shook my hand, dumped a lot of water on me, and offered me and my girlfriend a sip of beer. Not sure I've ever been offered a beer while driving anywhere, but I enjoyed the experience and politely declined.

Only other comment is that I really don't mind the Thai's who dump water on me. It's the foreigners who seem to be the most drunk and stupid of all the people I've seen. Maybe ban the foreigners.

[BrianCR]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

What makes you believe that?

[mortenaa]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Why stop there.. why not ban motorcycles all together?

[LarryBird]

Could happen anywhere! Leave if you don't like it! We're guests here!!

[Markaew]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Why stop there.. why not ban motorcycles all together?

A big majority of people travel by motorbike. It's their way of life and extremely dangerous considering driving abilities.

[Markaew]

Could happen anywhere! Leave if you don't like it! We're guests here!!

Here we go. Inescapable leave comments. Whatever.

[Bellweather]

We have the song " The 12 Days of Christmas " so when is Joe Carabao going to record " The 7 Days of Songkran " ? I'm sure we could all suggest some lyrics

[galoubet]

Why stop there.. why not ban motorcycles all together?

Now, now, now! Let's not get carried away

[DocN]

Could happen anywhere! Leave if you don't like it! We're guests here!!

So?

[Angeledge777]

Here goes the angry and jealous farang telling other foreigners to go away from this country where he is a guest as well. No faith for the West...

[metisdead]

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[Mosha]

From the government minister's own lips

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/626230-road-tolls-in-thailand-among-highest-in-the-world/?hl=%2026000

[Judo Chop]

On the 7th day of Songkran my true love gave to me, a turbo charged Honda wave,

7 waves are speeding, 6 deaths by fighting 5 deaths by drowning 4 kids run over, 3 farangs sober, 2 suicides.... and a buffalo in the back yard.

Happy Songkran.

[tonypace02]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Indeed they are! Most countries with good highway infrastructure, strong driving laws enforcement, and skilled, capable ( I say that with some reluctance) drivers see holiday death tolls at a fraction of Thailand's during this and other holiday seasons. Most in this forum know why they're so high.

NOW...., ban all motor bike traffic (without exception!) during this time and the number would be cut by 65%+. Unfortunate that this is the single most common form of transportation here.

Ban all car, truck, and bus traffic, too, and the numbers get even better.

[SiamKitt]

How do this year's figures so far match-up to last yr's..?? Or do we have to wait till the end of the '7 days'?? (no comparison seems to have been made yet).

[ThaiTerry]

I believe those high numbers of casualties during a holiday season are unique in the world.

Google "holiday death statistics" The toll here is relatively small when compared to other countries, for example, the 8 day new years period in South Africa this year, over 1,400 died. The US has over 45,000 vehicle deaths every year (about 5 times the population than Thailand).

Don.t know where you get you information but when I checked found the US in 2010 had 32,885 fatalities and 2011 had 32,367. The last time it hit 45,000 was 1989.