Seven deadly days of Songkran 2015: Fatalities in six days now reach 306

[webfact]

Songkran dead fatalities in six days now reach 306



BANGKOK: -- Highway carnage over the past six days of the seven deadly days of Songkran, April 9-15, now reached 306 with 55 more people killed in a single day yesterday and 538 injured.

Suthee Markboon, deputy minister of Interior, stated at the press conference at the Department of Public Disaster and Mitigation, before noon today that 55 more people were killed and 538 injured on Tuesday, the sixth day of the seven dangerous days of the Songkran festival from April 9-15.

A total of 509 highway accidents happened nationwide yesterday, bringing total death toll in the past six days of the dangerous period to 306 deaths, and 3,070 injuries in a total 2,915 highway accidents.

Surin recorded the highest death toll of 15 and highest accumulated injuries of 124.

Provinces which registered the highest highway accidents are Surin and Phitsanulok of 109 cases each.

Drunk driving is the main cause of most fatal accidents

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/songkran-dead-fatalities-in-six-days-now-reach-306


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-15

[JOC]

>>A total of 509 highway accidents happened nationwide yesterday, bringing total death toll in the past six days of the dangerous period to 306 deaths, and 3,070 injuries in a total 2,915 highway accidents<<Quote

Highway accidents

That is one way to circumvent the real numbers, only reporting highway accidents...............

Never trust a number presented by a Thai official..!!

[dragonfly94]

Bringing happiness back to the people

[Costas2008]

I predict a bumper year this Songkran.

They just started going back today.......there is another 4 days to go.

I can see the safety measures really worked well

[Lite Beer]

After six days road toll rises to 306

BANGKOK: -- The accumulated death toll of road accidents from April 9 to Tuesday rose to 306, the Road Safety Center announced Wednesday.

It said 2,915 road accidents happened during the six-day period, injuring 3,070 people. On the sixth day or Tuesday, 509 accidents happened, killing 55 and injuring 538 people.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/After-six-days-road-toll-rises-to-306-30258037.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-15

[Issangeorge]

So since the normal death rate is 70 per day or 420 over six days, Songkran, has saved 114 lives, let's extend the holiday.

[carstenp]

So since the normal death rate is 70 per day or 420 over six days, Songkran, has saved 114 lives, let's extend the holiday.

well George, this is positive and good news indeed.

I don't know about the extending of the holiday, but seems like the Thai has been more carefully driving or maybe fewer people is traveling on holiday

Always look at the bride side

[SABloke]

Why is the 9th included? Are 7 dangerous days more ominous than 6. Most people start travelling on the 10th and those that want a longer holiday take the 16th and 17th so 10 dangerous days from the 10th to the 19th would make sense. Who took off the 9th?

[Just1Voice]

What these idiots fail to comprehend is that during Songkran, there is an added police presence, with more checkpoints, so naturally the rate is going to fall below the normal "daily death toll". Once the holiday(s) are over, it's right back to the normal carnage, and the death rate shoots back up.

Imbeciles.

[willi2006]

So since the normal death rate is 70 per day or 420 over six days, Songkran, has saved 114 lives, let's extend the holiday.

Guess, that's not the case. 70 per day or 25.000 per year is the number of people dying within 1 month after the accident according to police. Whereas 306 in 6 days is the number of people who died immediately or may be at the same day.

As far as I read 30.000 per year are dying within 3 months after the accident according to the department of health.

[robertthebruce]

Thais dont bother about the ''Road Carnage'', its part of life here.., this will never change in our life time...

Sad to say...

[Nick167]

I have no sympathies for these things. Over the last three days I had to suffer being cooped in my condo at Onnut. I can see from my windows....these things driving in pickups laden with tons of people and water and throwing things aimlessly. There seems to be more tha usual number of teens on bikes without helmets merely racing up and down the roads and sois, making screeking sounds with their bikes. I can even see people smoking yaba and weeds from my window by the side of the road and these things rent sound systems that have been running from 7am to 11 pm the last three days at full blasts. There seem to be no police around ...totally lawless. All the dumb police tend to be concentrated at Silom and Khao San whereas the rest of Bangkok is being ruled by the ruthless mobs.Two days ago, we had a drunk neighbour banging everyones doors at 3am in the morning. Fortunately he aslo beat up a security guard who was trying to calm him down, hence the police was called in and he was taken away. (for good I hope). I should have taken a trip overseas during these period.

I only wish the worst for these things and one thing I have learnt....never help the underclasses, they are beyond salvation!

[seajae]

strangely enough in Australia they actually worked at reducing the number pf road deaths each year and the figures went down dramatically, here they seem to try to increase the figures each year by simply ignoring the problems and making rash statements instead. Wonder of they will ever realize that to reduce the numbers they need the police to actually enforce the rules and have a major presence on the roads, ie, have lots pf police cars patrolling and pulling over the offenders

[JOC]

I have no sympathies for these things. Over the last three days I had to suffer being cooped in my condo at Onnut. I can see from my windows....these things driving in pickups laden with tons of people and water and throwing things aimlessly. There seems to be more tha usual number of teens on bikes without helmets merely racing up and down the roads and sois, making screeking sounds with their bikes. I can even see people smoking yaba and weeds from my window by the side of the road and these things rent sound systems that have been running from 7am to 11 pm the last three days at full blasts. There seem to be no police around ...totally lawless. All the dumb police tend to be concentrated at Silom and Khao San whereas the rest of Bangkok is being ruled by the ruthless mobs.Two days ago, we had a drunk neighbour banging everyones doors at 3am in the morning. Fortunately he aslo beat up a security guard who was trying to calm him down, hence the police was called in and he was taken away. (for good I hope). I should have taken a trip overseas during these period.

I only wish the worst for these things and one thing I have learnt....never help the underclasses, they are beyond salvation!

What a sad post!!

Maybe Thailand is not the right place for you??

As for your last line: Who the hell do you think you are??

[tingtongfarang]

The population control system in thailand seems to be the only thing working better than planned, i doubt they have thoughts about changing anything at the moment.

[SuwadeeS]

Fact is, the new "leader" said he will change it this year. I knew, that he would fail in that, because it is difficult to change some people who wound take any advice.

Second, people who do not evaluate the mistakes of their own history, are dammed to repeat them.

A culture where parents give smal 10 years old kid a 120 cc motorbike, doesn't deserve any compassion.

They should get a life and blame themself.

Nobody else is responsible for the dead people, than Thai people.

Just some facts!!!!

[BlackJack]

Thailand has a household debt that is seriously high and all the Thais I talk to say they have no money to do anything.

I think this is a major reason why the toll is lower.

[connda]

The average daily fatalities in Thailand are about 38 per day. Wow!

They've killed 51/day for the first 6 days of SK or about 134% higher than average, so they kill about 13 more people per day during Songkran. Significant?

But to keep it in perspective, the UK with a total population around 64M kills about 6/day. Adjust that for population differences and the UK would have about 7/day.

How do you define daily carnage on the road: Thailand!

[mathias67]

strangely enough in Australia they actually worked at reducing the number pf road deaths each year and the figures went down dramatically, here they seem to try to increase the figures each year by simply ignoring the problems and making rash statements instead. Wonder of they will ever realize that to reduce the numbers they need the police to actually enforce the rules and have a major presence on the roads, ie, have lots pf police cars patrolling and pulling over the offenders

Why can't the army also be deployed at peak times like Songkran. Where there is a will there is a way but the Thai authorities DO NOT have will

[ToddinChonburi]

This Holiday runs until the 19th so this is totally BS . Pattaya is closing beach road at 8 am on the 19th A lot of people will be on the road the night of the 19th.

[ToddinChonburi]

I was reading an article about USA road deaths for big rig trucks . Even though there were more deaths in 2014 than 2013 they said the death toll was down due to more miles driven in 2014 than 2013. Government BS .

[Commerce]

Comon Thai people we need big numbers today, I got 376 in the pool

Soreeee. My mate Chalerm says it will be 334.

And it will be kept at that.

Unfortunately, we won't get a correct poll, as usual, because most people have travelled back today because they have work tomorrow, and yes, they really did.

Tomorrow's results don't count - but be ensured that MAYHEM will arrive in numbers........ However, we won't see them. cos it's all TAT and Ncop controlled... for sure... no control of the release of numbers from the TOP of course, cause they are doing such a wonderful job bringing 'happiness'.

[phoenixdoglover]

So since the normal death rate is 70 per day or 420 over six days, Songkran, has saved 114 lives, let's extend the holiday.

Exactly. In 2012, the Thai traffic fatality rate was reported as 44 per 100,000 per year.

For a population of 67 million, that's 29,840 deaths per year, or 80 traffic deaths per day.

Of course, the death rate is too high on any day, but the official position, and the belief of the common man, is that Songkran is way more dangerous than at other times.

Could this be a false perception?

[apetley]

The average daily fatalities in Thailand are about 38 per day. Wow!

They've killed 51/day for the first 6 days of SK or about 134% higher than average, so they kill about 13 more people per day during Songkran. Significant?

But to keep it in perspective, the UK with a total population around 64M kills about 6/day. Adjust that for population differences and the UK would have about 7/day.

How do you define daily carnage on the road: Thailand!

Two Songkrans ago a Thai Govt Minister put the annual death toll on the roads here at about 26,000 or about 70 per day.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Road-death-toll-in-Thailand-among-highest-in-the-w-30202066.html

Personally, I believe the figures released during the 7 deadly days are absolutely meaningless when you have some provinces reporting zero accidents which is truly unbelievable.

[jackanapes]

get more police on the roads anyone found to be intoxicated take them off the road incarcerate them till they sober up that should keep the figures down .

[Watertoy]

Should makes laws to restrict Songkran Water festivities to within the grounds of Temples and ban them from the road. I dont see any sense in any of it. Something needs to be done.....cannstart with the importance of human life.

[godden]

I'm waiting for my lotto number, not far now come on you drunks i'm waiting on you

[NoshowJones]

Fact is, the new "leader" said he will change it this year. I knew, that he would fail in that, because it is difficult to change some people who wound take any advice.

Second, people who do not evaluate the mistakes of their own history, are dammed to repeat them.

A culture where parents give smal 10 years old kid a 120 cc motorbike, doesn't deserve any compassion.

They should get a life and blame themself.

Nobody else is responsible for the dead people, than Thai people.

Just some facts!!!!

and at this time of year, some Farangs also.

[Water Buffalo]

They drive like absolute maniacs, especially during this time. Bumper to bumper driving. Aggressive. Intimidating. Mindless. Drunk. Maniacs.

[ldiablo]

I drove through 2 checkpoints last night and all the police seemed to be sitting down playing cards or something. But they certainly weren't checking any drivers.