161 deaths, 1,640 injuries during 3-day Songkran holiday

[webfact]

161 dead, 1,640 injured during 3-day Songkran holiday
By English News



BANGKOK, April 14 - There have been 161 deaths and 1,640 injuries so far during the three-day Songkran holiday, according to Thailand's Road Safety Directing Center.

Dr Nopporn Cheunklin, Deputy director of the Department of Disease Control, said the number of road accidents during April 11-13 was 1,539, an increase of 93 from last year.

The highest number of accidents at 64 occurred in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat. It also saw the highest number of injuries at 69, while the northeastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima reached the highest death toll at 10.

The causes of accidents were mainly due to drunk driving and speeding by motorcycles and pickup trucks respectively.

Chaiyaphum has so far been the only province not having experienced road accidents.

As of April 13, the number of accidents reached 689, an increase of 34 accidents year-on-year with 59 deaths and 747 injuries, or a drop of 14 cases and an increase of 59 cases respectively.

The deputy director, meanwhile, said according to the projection of incidents, the level of road accidents this year has been more serious than last year with 65 per cent of the total deaths having occurred immediately during the actual accidents. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-14

[webfact]

25 injured, 2 killed, in road accidents at Songkhla Province

SONGKHLA, 14 April 2014 (NNT) - In Songkhla Province, 25 people were injured and 2 people were killed so far during the third day of the Songkran holidays.

Amnart Pol-amat, the head of the Disaster of Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Songkhla Province, revealed that the department has established 32 vehicle checkpoints across 16 districts in order to help reduce the number of casualties during the festival. At least 11 road accidents were reported yesterday on April 13th, where 13 people were injured and one person was killed.

So far, there have been at least 23 road accidents, where 25 people were injured, and 2 people have died. Of the two people who have been killed, one of them was driving under the influence of alcohol and crashed his car into an electric pole while the other drove beyond the required speed limit.

Reports indicate that most road accidents in Songkhla involved motorcycles and Hat Yai City was the place that had the most accidents. Unsafe driving and speeding were the reasons to blame.

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.


-- NNT 2014-04-14

[Bluespunk]

"Amnart Pol-amat, the head of the Disaster of Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Songkhla Province, revealed that the department has established 32 vehicle checkpoints across 16 districts in order to help reduce the number of casualties during the festival"

So 2 checkpoints per district. Right, that's going to work.

[mca]

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.

10?

[ginjag]

"Amnart Pol-amat, the head of the Disaster of Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Songkhla Province, revealed that the department has established 32 vehicle checkpoints across 16 districts in order to help reduce the number of casualties during the festival"

So 2 checkpoints per district. Right, that's going to work.

Of 21,000 inspected vehicles, the police apprehended 10. WOW refusing to wear seat belt--helmet -no license. THE REST of the 19,990 were fined 300 baht and told to go on their way ????

[Costas2008]

Nothing is going to work, Bluespank.

May be, in some time in the future, Thai driving mentality and drunk habits will change.

Then Thailand will see a change.

Don't know about you, but I don't think I will be alive to have that pleasure

[ginjag]

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.

10?

These 10 were the ones that had no cash on them.

[art vandelay]

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

[wilcopops]

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

There are plenty of people in Thailand who not only care but have researched and suggested measures,; the problem is the ignorant leaders who sit on their and think they know better and issue these ridiculous dictums with scant regard to any advice or scientific thought...........

e.g. - putting anklets on convicted drunk drivers........

Edited April 14, 2014 by wilcopops

[wilcopops]

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.

10?

I think it is safe to say that this is patently nonsense. it reflects more on the ability of the police to carry out their job than any reality about how people drive in Thailand.

[NongKhaiKid]

I wonder how many of these horrible statistics were caused by drunk drivers who were stopped by the BIB paid an on the spot ' fine ' and were allowed to go ?

Of course that's a set of statistics that will never be known.

[webfact]

Nakhon Sawan updates its latest Songkran festival casualties

NAKHON SAWAN, 14 April 2014 (NNT) - Nakhon Sawan province has updated its reports on the number of accidents and casualties that have occurred over the Songkran Holiday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has recently set up road accident prevention centers nationwide. So far, the center in Nakhon Sawan has reported 51 injuries and 8 deaths in a period of 3 days during the Songkran holiday.

The center is also working hard to prevent and eliminate road accidents that are likely to occur during the “seven dangerous days” of the festival. Various checkpoints have been set up and road signs have been installed to provide sufficient warnings to motorists to prevent them from going over speed limits and be aware of sharp turns on the road.

Their efforts, however, have not been that much effective, as accidents are still ongoing. The center has, therefore, stressed its personnel to increase the number of checkpoints along the roads to arrest drunk drivers and those who are driving over the speed limit in order to lessen further accidents.

-- NNT 2014-04-14

[wilcopops]

Nakhon Sawan updates its latest Songkran festival casualties

NAKHON SAWAN, 14 April 2014 (NNT) - Nakhon Sawan province has updated its reports on the number of accidents and casualties that have occurred over the Songkran Holiday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has recently set up road accident prevention centers nationwide. So far, the center in Nakhon Sawan has reported 51 injuries and 8 deaths in a period of 3 days during the Songkran holiday.

The center is also working hard to prevent and eliminate road accidents that are likely to occur during the “seven dangerous days” of the festival. Various checkpoints have been set up and road signs have been installed to provide sufficient warnings to motorists to prevent them from going over speed limits and be aware of sharp turns on the road.

Their efforts, however, have not been that much effective, as accidents are still ongoing. The center has, therefore, stressed its personnel to increase the number of checkpoints along the roads to arrest drunk drivers and those who are driving over the speed limit in order to lessen further accidents.

-- NNT 2014-04-14

this is utterly risible - to claim this as effective action and still hold on to one's job would be impossible in most countries.

[wilcopops]

"Amnart Pol-amat, the head of the Disaster of Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Songkhla Province, revealed that the department has established 32 vehicle checkpoints across 16 districts in order to help reduce the number of casualties during the festival"

So 2 checkpoints per district. Right, that's going to work.

re-arrange these letters to find an appropriate word to describe someone who thinks these measures are effective.

I - d - i - o - t.

I expect the person who thought it was a good idea will also have a problem working out the word?

(Blues - this is aimed at the originator - I get the irony in your post)

Edited April 14, 2014 by wilcopops

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

There are plenty of people in Thailand who not only care but have researched and suggested measures,; the problem is the ignorant leaders who sit on their and think they know better and issue these ridiculous dictums with scant regard to any advice or scientific thought...........

e.g. - putting anklets on convicted drunk drivers........

Yes there are plenty who care , until there is far better education at school level , responsibility in the community and it's leaders , understanding the limitations of vehicles and alcohol , you are banging your head against a brick wall .

[webfact]

Ghost rider becomes first Phuket fatality in Songkran Seven Days of Danger

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/718867-ghost-rider-becomes-first-phuket-fatality-in-songkran-seven-days-of-danger/

[WoopyDoo]

Based on there being around 30,000 deaths on the roads per year, Songkran is actually safer than any other time of the year.

30,000/52 = 576 per week.

[webfact]

Another 59 people died in Songkran road accidents Sunday



BANGKOK: -- The third day of nationwide road mishaps during the seven dangerous day of the Songkran festival claimed another 59 deaths and 747 injuries, raising total death toll in three days to 161, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said Monday.

It said a total of 689 accident cases were recorded Sunday with 59 people died and 747 people injured.

It said so far in three days of the seven dangerous days, a total of 161 people were killed and 1,640 others injured in 1,539 accident cases, compared with the first three days of last year’s 174 deaths and 1,526 injuries in 1,446 cases.

Drunk driving is the main cause of all road mishaps ( 43.28% ), followed by speeding ( 23.95% ).

It said vehicles involved in most road mishaps are motorcycles (76.35%), and pickup trucks (14.81%).

Motorcyclists failing to wear crash helmets posed high risk of losing lives, it said.

Nakhon Ratchasima recorded the highest accumulated death toll of 10 persons in the first three days of the seven dangerous days, while Nakhon Si Thammarat booked the highest accumulated injuries of 69.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/another-59-people-died-songkran-road-accidents-sunday/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-14

[gp2002]

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.

10?

Yes.........the other 21,490 paid 200 baht and were let go.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[wilcopops]

I wonder how many of these horrible statistics were caused by drunk drivers who were stopped by the BIB paid an on the spot ' fine ' and were allowed to go ?

Of course that's a set of statistics that will never be known.

There are "lies, Damned lies, and statistics" - Mark Twain.

Really road safety stats are very complex and the media loves to take one stat and spin anything they like off it. I agree that a lot off the grass-roots compilation of stats in Thailand is seriously flawed, but firstly this is not unique to Thailand and secondly those who seriousl;y analyse the etas (not the media) are well aware of this.

It really doesn't matter if Thailand is first, second or 90th in some league, the problems and solutions are there for all to see....the laws, roads etc in Thailand are not up to standard and the various aspects of road safety not only not being implemented but also being systematically ignored by those in a position to do something - .ie. those with the purse strings and power. they are in short, killing their own voters and costing the nation a fortune to boot.

Edited April 14, 2014 by wilcopops

[GAZZPA]

25 injured, 2 killed, in road accidents at Songkhla Province

SONGKHLA, 14 April 2014 (NNT) - In Songkhla Province, 25 people were injured and 2 people were killed so far during the third day of the Songkran holidays.

Amnart Pol-amat, the head of the Disaster of Prevention and Mitigation Department (DDPM) in Songkhla Province, revealed that the department has established 32 vehicle checkpoints across 16 districts in order to help reduce the number of casualties during the festival. At least 11 road accidents were reported yesterday on April 13th, where 13 people were injured and one person was killed.

So far, there have been at least 23 road accidents, where 25 people were injured, and 2 people have died. Of the two people who have been killed, one of them was driving under the influence of alcohol and crashed his car into an electric pole while the other drove beyond the required speed limit.

Reports indicate that most road accidents in Songkhla involved motorcycles and Hat Yai City was the place that had the most accidents. Unsafe driving and speeding were the reasons to blame.

Apart from that, the DDPM has inspected at around 21,500 vehicles over the past three days. Ten people were apprehended by the police on charges of refusing to wear a safety belt or a helmet, or driving without a license.

-- NNT 2014-04-14

10 people out of 21,500 were apprehended.. Thats' .05% of the people that they checked,, so everyone else was clean? Please, I mean please,,,!

So, how many were drunk, paid 200 baht and drove on their merry way?

It's all a total farce, we all know it. People will continue to die until the police actually do their job and enforce the law rather then behave like a money grabbing commercial entity.

[Sigurris]

I mentioned in another thread that the figures you read about are deaths ON the road not deaths caused by road accidents. So 4 people in a car crash. One dies on impact and three die later in hospital. Add one person to the statistics! Go figure.

[wilcopops]

1 - "Drunk driving is the main cause of all road mishaps ( 43.28% ), followed by speeding ( 23.95% ).

2 - It said vehicles involved in most road mishaps are motorcycles (76.35%), and pickup trucks (14.81%).

Getting the percentages of vehicles (1) is pretty straightforward, however the first asset ion is to my mind highly subjective and if those involved in road safety think it is a plausible thing to state as fact, then they should be sacked....actually they are probably just taking the word of the local police as "gospel" which is just not acceptable.

​In fact if you look at RELIABLE analysis of road incidents anywhere i the world, they seldom cite these as "CAUSES" but after careful investigation
(weeks months) will say that they are likely to be a factor in the process.

​This again just goes to show that all the way down the line no-one in a position of authority in Thailand appears to have the first idea about road safety.

[wilcopops]

I mentioned in another thread that the figures you read about are deaths ON the road not deaths caused by road accidents. So 4 people in a car crash. One dies on impact and three die later in hospital. Add one person to the statistics! Go figure.

I dealt with that earlier.

[bulekee]

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

No it's not criminal,it's called Thainess.

[TechnikaIII]

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

A handful of the dead met their fate on the road to Mae Sot on Friday morning. I saw them. Their van, probably 30 minutes ahead of the one I was in, had obviously tried to pass something large, bus or truck, on the inside, and did not see the truck that was parked on the side of the road. He must must have been able to hit the brakes for a second or two, but still slammed into it with sufficient force to totally squash the font compartment. So he, the driver and whoever sitting next to him would have been killed instantly. 4 or 5 passengers who survived unscathed were standing away from the vehicle, waiting for .. whatever. There were a couple of policemen loitering about, waiting for instructions? They are useless pack of <deleted>. Injured and dead were still in the van. A few moans came from those in my van who saw it, but the others, glued to their mobiles, Facebook, were oblivious to the incident, and uncaring about the way our own driver was speeding, swerving between lanes, etc. I said to a few, "You should use your seat belt." One man took heed. A couple of women stared at me with indigence, as though I was suggesting they wear some unfashionable hat.

On the way back from Mae Sot, the driver we had was even worse. I reported him to police at one of the checkpoints. One policeman spoke to him softly, but he just nodded, smiled and got back behind the wheel and took off. Once around the first bend, he planted the foot as though there were no tomorrow. Back at the bus station in Nakhon Sawan, I took details of the vehicle, and lodged a complaint at the information office. The young lady their called the Tourist Police. ... The what? I said to her, and the person on the phone, that this is not about tourism, but the safety of everyone who dares to drive a car in Thailand, and every passenger of every vehicle. The tourist police person did thank me for the details, and said that they will certainly be giving the driver a warning. They would speak to him in the morning.

By the way, the only reason I was on that visa run, was that the train to Butterworth was fully booked. I do have the train tickets now, and for your information, I suggest, if you need it, book the train a couple of weeks ahead.

[atyclb]

161 people dead is shocking. the fact that no one in thailand cares enough to do anything about it is criminal.

Shame on you saying something like that regarding the world superior race!

[upena]

Same stats every year, same under-reporting every year, same failed Thai Government campaign every year

[apetley]

Based on there being around 30,000 deaths on the roads per year, Songkran is actually safer than any other time of the year.

30,000/52 = 576 per week.

Only if you believe the daily figures published during Songkran.