248 killed, 2,643 injured in road accidents on first 5 days of Songkran holiday

[webfact]

248 killed in road accidents during 5 days of Songkran
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 16---Two hundred and forty-eight persons were killed and 2,643 others were injured in 2,481 road accidents during the past five days (April 11-15) of the Thai New Year holiday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Pol Maj Gen Surapol Yunuch told a briefing today that yesterday alone, 44 deaths and 501 injuries in 454 road accidents were recorded.

The accidents mainly resulted from driving under the influence of alcohol, followed by speeding beyond the legal limit.

From April 11-15, the most deaths were reported in Nakhon Ratchasima with 12 fatalities, while the highest number of injured was seen in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Chiang Mai with 101 each.

Chiang Mai had the highest number of accidents, with 91 mishaps

Meanwhile, eight provinces were recorded as having no fatalities--- Amnat Charoen, Chai Nat, Phetchaburi, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Narathiwat, Phang-nga and Yala.

Following the record, Panadda Diskul, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Interior, said that the number of fatalities dropped while a number of accidents and injuries rose.

As a large number of Songkran celebrants were returning from upcountry to the capital today, Mr Panadda said that the Road Safety Centre instructed the government's holiday travel service to set up checkpoints and rest areas to facilitate the traffic and travellers and provide road safety. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-16

[webfact]

Returning holidaymakers pack New Southern Bus Terminal

BANGKOK, 16 April 2014 (NNT) – Bangkok’s New Southern Bus Terminal has been crowded with returning vacationers, mostly from the South, following the Songkran holiday, prompting officials to beef up security around the premises.

As today wraps up the Songkran holiday, a steady inflow of arrivals was seen at the New Southern Bus Terminal, located on Boromarajajonani Road in western Bangkok, this morning. The arriving passengers reportedly came from southern, western and central provinces where they had spent their days off visiting family or traveling.

Passengers on short-distance bus trips, such as those from Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi, are expected to reach Bangkok periodically throughout today, unlike those from other provinces further south who mostly arrived in the morning after embarking on overnight journeys.

To provide convenience, terminal staff have designated a taxi zone for the arriving holidaymakers. Meanwhile, police have increased their patrols both in and around the compound in a bid to deter criminal activities.


-- NNT 2014-04-16

[bangkokheat]

woohoo, looks like thailand is going to break the death toll record, great work guys, thailand the hub of broken records

[tomyummer]

Sad sad statistic reports. But for some sick reason I always read them.

[Boycie]

Nearly 1 more for the count, very lucky child!! A big to the Isuzu driver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecE9uhzh37Q

[Melyn]

More people than were on MH370

Practically zero effort to resolve it from the government

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[webfact]

Fourth day’s death rises 44 to 248



BANGKOK: -- Forty-four more people died Tuesday in road mishaps, raising total death toll in four days of the Songkran festival to 248 from 204 a day before.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said a total of 2,481 cases of road accidents were reported from April 11- 15, compared to 2,280 cases last year, a 8.38% increase or 191 cases higher.

Total death during the period was 248 as compared to last year’s 256.

For a single day on April 15, 44 people died and 501 others injured in 454 cases of accidents.

Chiang Mai came on top with highest accumulated road accidents of 91 cases during the five-day period, while Nakhon Ratchasima had the highest accumulated death toll of 12.

Drunk driving and speeding remained major causes of accidents while motorcycles and pickup trucks were vehicles that involved in most accidents.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/fourth-days-death-rises-44-248/


-- Thai PBS 2014-04-16

[sms747]

Hub of stupidity, well done Thailand

[winstonc]

life seems so worthless here i dont know why..plus seriously lazy police doesnt help matters i presume..

[webfact]

Songkran road accidents' death toll rise to 248

BANGKOK: -- The first five days of Songkran holidays had claimed 248 lives and wounded 2,643 people in 2,481 road accidents nationwide, the Road Safety Directing Centre said Wednesday.

The cumulative accidents and injuries increased by 191 accidents and 204 injuries from the same period last Songkran, but the cumulative deaths lowered by eight cases, said Royal Thai Police's Office of Police Strategy deputy chief Pol Maj Gen Surapol Yoonuch.

On April 15 alone, there were 454 road accidents killing 44 people and injuring 501 others.


-- The Nation 2014-04-16

[webfact]

Songkran death toll rises to 248 after five days, says Police

BANGKOK, 16 April 2014 (NNT) — The death toll for the first five days of the seven dangerous days of Songkran has reached 248 nationwide.

There were 454 accidents, 44 people were killed and 501 injured on the fifth day alone, Pol.Maj.Gen. Surapol Younuch, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Police Strategy said, citing statistics compiled by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM).

Since 11th April, the total number of road accidents was 2,481, up from 2,290 cases last year, while 248 fatalities were reported, down on the figure of 256 who died last year.

Chiang Mai has recorded the highest accumulated number of accidents at 91, while the highest death toll is 12 in Nakorn Ratchasima. Meanwhile, Nakorn Sri Thammarat and Chiang Mai have the highest number of injured people so far, at 101 each.

The eight casualty-free (i.e. zero death) provinces are Amnartcharoen, Chainart, Petchaburi, Lopburi, Angthong, Narathiwat, Pang Nga, and Yala.


-- NNT 2014-04-16

[upena]

Just think how many there would be if the Thai Government honestly reported instead of just the victims at the scene.

[ChrisY1]

Reported similar to a competition.....Sad facts!

[Jonmarleesco]

The Nation, earlier today: The number of deaths - 161 - is thus far lower than last year's 174 ...'

So much for that statistic. And so much for bringing the total number of accidents and deaths down.

[MrY]

248 killed in road accidents during 5 days of Songkran

This is great news! A 30% reduction over the death toll on an average day! Heightened law enforcement and educating the people about hazards of drinking and driving is finally paying off...

[7000gods]

In the US 2012, there were more than 350 fatalities during the Christmas travel period.

[apetley]

In the US 2012, there were more than 350 fatalities during the Christmas travel period.

What is the population of the US compared to Thailand?

[media]

Every year the Pol chief says that they are going to reduce the carnage during Songkran yet in 14yrs I have never seen a change.
police still dont enforce anything! they still let the water throwers attack motorcyclists and people that are clearly "Not Playing"
I would be very interested in knowing how many deaths are motorcycle related ? all we know is 240 deaths... not to mention 3000 that were lucky not to die from their injuries.

[metisdead]

A gruesome video that was not related to a Songkhran traffic accident has been removed as well as the replies. The video was originally uploaded on LiveLeak on Feb-24-2014.

[MrY]

A gruesome video that was not related to a Songkhran traffic accident has been removed as well as the replies. The video was originally uploaded on LiveLeak on Feb-24-2014.

Thank You.

[darren84310]

A gruesome video that was not related to a Songkhran traffic accident has been removed as well as the replies. The video was originally uploaded on LiveLeak on Feb-24-2014.

Thank You.

My apologies for the mix up about dates, I was told that it happened a few days ago.

However, about the gruesome nature of the video I don't apologies for.

It's important that people see these things, just the same way that 9-11 was shown so much and continues to be shown. I found that deeply shocking and upsetting but you can't shelter people from what's happened.

[Torrens54]

Nearly 1 more for the count, very lucky child!! A big to the Isuzu driver.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecE9uhzh37Q

Seems like the idiot in black on the side of the road thought it was "good for a laugh!"

[bushman1666]

In the US 2012, there were more than 350 fatalities during the Christmas travel period.

Population of US five and a half times greater than Thailand. Think about it!

[bushman1666]

Every Song Kran and New Year we see these horrendous statistics. But the bare figures are a little misleading. If you Google Annual road deaths Thailand you will find figures from 12,000 to 26,000. Take the lowest figure: 12,000 then divide by 365 = a tad under 33 people a day die in RTA's in LOS. Multiply by 5 = 165. Now subtract this figure from the 248 Song Kran deaths and you are left with a mere 83 additional RTA fatalities associated with lunacy surrounding Song Kran. That's just 16.6 additional deaths per day. In the LOS where death and danger lurks round every corner you'd hardly even notice that.