364 people killed during '7 dangerous Songkran holidays'

[webfact]

364 people killed during '7 dangerous Songkran holidays'

BANGKOK: -- A total of 3,373 road accidents happened during the seven-day monitoring period from April 9 to 15, killing 364 people and injuring 3,559 others, the Road Safety Centre announced Thursday.

The death toll increased by 42 deaths, compared to the same period last year, the centre added.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/364-people-killed-during-7-dangerous-Songkran-holi-30258074.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-16

[webfact]

Songkran death toll rises to 364

BANGKOK, 16 April 2015 (NNT) - A total of 364 people died from road accidents, while 3,559 others were injured during the Songkran holidays.

Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office M.L. Panadda Diskul has instructed all provincial governors to maintain road safety for Songkran revelers returning home and in areas that continued to celebrate the water festival.

The road safety operation center claimed motorcycle driving and driving under the influence were the main causes of road fatalities during the holiday period.

Phitsanulok province reportedly has the highest number of road accidents, while the highest death toll belongs to Phetchabun province.

More than 3,300 accidents occurred during the seven day period of the road safety campaign. No fatalities have been reported in the provinces of Phuket, Mae Hong Son, Yala, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon.


-- NNT 2015-04-16

[webfact]

Seven days of Songkran festival claims 364 lives



BANGKOK: -- The seven dangerous days of the Songkran festival from April 9-15 have claimed the lives of 364 celebrants and injured 3,559 people.

Deputy minister of Interior Suthee Markboon disclosed before noon today that the Road Safety Directing Centre has recorded a total of 364 deaths, 3,559 injuries since the seven-day campaign to reduce road mishaps during the Songkran period ended April 15.

Surin province in the Northeast had the highest death toll of 16.

Only in a single day on April 15, there were a total of 458 road accidents with 58 people killed and 489 injured.

In conclusion, he said the seven-day dangerous period from April 9 to 15, 364 people died, and 3,559 injured in a total of 3,373 cases of road mishaps nationwide.

Drunk driving is the main cause of accident representing 39.31% of all cases, followed by speeding 24.35%.

Motorcycle is the vehicle that engaged in most road accidents or 81.34%.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/seven-days-of-songkran-festival-claims-364-lives


-- Thai PBS 2015-04-16

[JAG]

Unless the Police actually enforce the laws, nothing will change. Sitting under a canopy beside the road watching TV doesn't work.

At the Border Police Checkpoint outside Mai Sai yesterday, the police were stopping all the traffic. Fair enough, but 100 metres before the checkpoint, where all the traffic was being slowed down and channeled into one lane there was a bunch of lads with a hosepipe blasting everyone. I saw a motorcyclist in front of me come off, luckily he was only doing about 5mph, but they still hosed him down as he lay there, and ran out with buckets for a coup de grace. I stopped to let him get out of the way/ back on his bike and the pratt in the 4wd pick up behind tried to force his way past, presumably so the 6 standing up in the back with barrels of water could finish the poor sod off! Mr Plod just ignored it.

On the drive from Mai Sai to Chiang Rai (60km) I saw the aftermath of three wrecks.

[DavoTheGun]

I think it would be a safe bet that this figure would be more then doubled if they counted the number of people lying in Hospital, in a Coma who will die over the next week or so!!

[webfact]

Only five provinces have no Songkran road toll

BANGKOK: -- Only five provinces saw no one killed in road accidents during the seven-day monitoring period from April 9 to 15 for Songkran holidays, the Road Safety Centre announced Thursday.

The provinces are Phuket, Mae Hong Son, Yala, Samut Songkram and Samut Sakhon.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Only-five-provinces-have-no-Songkran-road-toll-30258079.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-16

[kalbo123]

Thailand has about 25.000 deadly traffic accidents a year,

So about 68 a day.

7 x 68 = 476!!

So I find the figures they come with not realistic.

[NongKhaiKid]

Stats and breakdowns, suitable quotes from various people including reasons, excuses, hand wringing, possibly some half a...d promises and that's it until December.

[smurph]

Highest Songkran fatality rate since 2009 according to this article. So much for increased public safety... http://asiancorrespondent.com/132205/thailands-roads-suffer-deadliest-songkran-in-6-years-364-dead/

[clockman]

Thailand has about 25.000 deadly traffic accidents a year,

So about 68 a day.

7 x 68 = 476!!

So I find the figures they come with not realistic.

It is just that undefinable Thainess!

[Rooo]

Highest Songkran fatality rate since 2009 according to this article. So much for increased public safety... http://asiancorrespondent.com/132205/thailands-roads-suffer-deadliest-songkran-in-6-years-364-dead/

They never include people that later die from their injuries.

[Fullstop]

The road safety operation center claimed motorcycle driving and driving under the influence were the main causes of road fatalities during the holiday period.

"Motorcycle driving (sic) is a cause of road fatalities" ? Let's make that "Idiots riding motorcycles........"

I ride a bike...and I'm still alive.

[empireboy]

With more than 500 people dying on the roads each week (on average) why wouldn't it be worth some serious focus?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate

[godden]

It's the thai mentality every year motorcycles are most at risk, it's telling you don't ride a M/c if your pissed, it's a no brainer

[taony]

Five provinces with no deaths? Wasn't it just two the other day? did all the people in three provinces come back to life? And i could have swore samut prakarn was one of them.

[alocacoc]

It's the thai mentality every year motorcycles are most at risk, it's telling you don't ride a M/c if your pissed, it's a no brainer

That's right. If you don't have a driving license. No problem. No working lights on the vehicle. Who cares? Jump over the red light. Yes, that makes fun. Do crazy u-turns. Sure. But don't drink and drive.

[Just1Voice]

FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!

For the past 7+ years I've wondered why the kindest, most polite, considerate Thai you could ever meet turns into a raving lunatic once they get on a motorbike, or behind the wheel of any vehicle they might happen to drive. I think I finally figured it out.

Electro Magnetic Waves! That's right, the Electro Magnetic Waves that emanate from any motor affects the portion of the Thai brain that handles such things as Common Sense, Courtesy, Politeness, and Situational Awareness, completely shutting it down, leaving the Thai as “brainless idiots” in the process. Therefore, it's really not their fault that they become “Motorized Maniacs” once inside a vehicle or straddling a motorbike.

It's the Occam's Razor theory: “...among competing hypotheses that predict equally well, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected.” That's the only thing that would account for it, as all other “excuses” and “reasons” have been tried, tested and failed.

So, the next time you see a Thai driving in ways that make you cringe, or shake your head in wonder, just remember, it's not really their fault.

[ToddinChonburi]

Holiday far from over, what a joke this is.

[Fiddlesticks]

Congratulations Thailand! Another record broken! Police should be proud to be part of the ongoing slaughter of travelers as they pretend to be enforcing laws. Looking forward to the next holiday carnage report and the laughable lip service by Thai officials.

[DLock]

You know if that many people were dying from some illness or epidemic they'd be spending huge money and resources trying to fix the problem.

But they fact is, they just don't know what to do.

Until penalties are enforced more than a 200 baht to Somchai the policeman and sent on your way, this will happen year in, year out.

[Fullstop]

FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!

Electro Magnetic Waves! That's right, the Electro Magnetic Waves that emanate from any motor affects the portion of the Thai brain

Not any motor I'm afraid. Only electric ones. Internal combustion engines don't give off electromagnetic waves.

But if any of you are riding/driving electric bikes or cars...you better heed Just1Voice and wrap some tinfoil around your heads.

[chrisinth]

It has always been the same here in Thailand, when they pick out the 'busy' times of year (Songkran, New Year) and do a day-by-day tally of deaths and injuries. But how accurate is it compared to a normal week?

What is the average death & injury figures for Thailand? There are so many guesstimates around that they are confusing figures to say the least; an earlier poster quoted 68 a day, another 500 a week. So what is it? It could be argued that Songkran would be one of the safer times of year to be out on the roads with only 364 deaths recorded compared to the suggested average figures.

When bringing the death tallies to the public, have they put the increased travel into the equation when these mass migrations happen? Yes, there is drink involved and this will lead to greater figures, but actually how much higher are the numbers compared to average?

IMO, the government, and more importantly the police, needs to concentrate on the average figures before giving the media vultures food for distribution. The shock and awe just covers normality for the rest of the year.

Edited April 16, 2015 by chrisinth

[Just1Voice]

FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!

Electro Magnetic Waves! That's right, the Electro Magnetic Waves that emanate from any motor affects the portion of the Thai brain

Not any motor I'm afraid. Only electric ones. Internal combustion engines don't give off electromagnetic waves.

But if any of you are riding/driving electric bikes or cars...you better heed Just1Voice and wrap some tinfoil around your heads.

Actually, while my post is in jest, I think you will do just a tad bit of research, you will find that nearly ALL internal combustion motors in cars, trucks, etc, and motor bikes, motor cycles actually DO give off electro magnetic waves from the electronics in the car, which is why burst from an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) device will totally shut down the electronics and disable the engine.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Just1Voice

[Jonmarleesco]

A 13% increase. So much for a reduction target. Evidently too many Thai drivers/riders get more stupid by the year, not less.

[X pat]

After reading all of this,all I can say is what the hell it is all in fun.

[mca]

Only five provinces have no Songkran road toll

BANGKOK: -- Only five provinces saw no one killed in road accidents during the seven-day monitoring period from April 9 to 15 for Songkran holidays, the Road Safety Centre announced Thursday.

The provinces are Phuket, Mae Hong Son, Yala, Samut Songkram and Samut Sakhon.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Only-five-provinces-have-no-Songkran-road-toll-30258079.html

-- The Nation 2015-04-16

What a depressing statistic.

[Jonmarleesco]

FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!

Electro Magnetic Waves! That's right, the Electro Magnetic Waves that emanate from any motor affects the portion of the Thai brain

Not any motor I'm afraid. Only electric ones. Internal combustion engines don't give off electromagnetic waves.

But if any of you are riding/driving electric bikes or cars...you better heed Just1Voice and wrap some tinfoil around your heads.

Actually, while my post is in jest, I think you will do just a tad bit of research, you will find that nearly ALL internal combustion motors in cars, trucks, etc, and motor bikes, motor cycles actually DO give off electro magnetic waves from the electronics in the car, which is why burst from an EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) device will totally shut down the electronics and disable the engine.

EMPs fry the electronics on modern cars, rather than older models; the ones whose essential features - brakes, etc - are all electronically controlled. They aren't particularly fussy, being liable to fry the electronics of all modern vehicles within reach.

[apetley]

A 13% increase. So much for a reduction target. Evidently too many Thai drivers/riders get more stupid by the year, not less.

As do those in charge if they believe that the same tired policy of a few tents by the side of the road and the setting up of lines of cones will have any tangible effect on the carnage.

[DM07]

That worked well, didn't it?

[Truth4All]

You know if that many people were dying from some illness or epidemic they'd be spending huge money and resources trying to fix the problem.

But they fact is, they just don't know what to do.

Until penalties are enforced more than a 200 baht to Somchai the policeman and sent on your way, this will happen year in, year out.

OK-- So make it like America and give all the cops some Tasers to work over all the bad drivers!!!

Oh, and then raise their Mandatory Insurance premiums by 50% for 3 years!

I think the "Nanny Society" is coming to fruition in Thailand, fast enough.

Not driving on the roads is the easiest answer if you're scared!

So, if 64, 68, or 71 people die everyday in Thailand on the roads-- Songkran is better!!!