Jam-packed traffic as holidaymakers streaming out of capital to celebrate Songkran

[rooster59]

Jam-packed traffic as holidaymakers streaming out of capital to celebrate Songkran

BANGKOK: All highways and motorways bound for the North, Northeast, East and South were jam-packed with vehicles as holiday makers started to return homes to celebrate the upcoming Songkran festival, and to meet their families as it is also the Thai traditional New Year.

All homebound traffic on the Eastern, Western ring roads, Bangkok- Chonburi motorway, Phaholyothin, Asia, Phetkasem and Mitraparb or Friendship highways were reported by Highway police to be heavily jammed due to huge pressures of vehicles streaming out of the capital.

Highway police said heavily jammed traffic are reported at two toll gates on the Eastern ring road, Thanyaburi and Thap Charng where vehicles lining up for several kilometres to pass the toll gates.

Although tolls are exempted during the week-long festival, traffic passing each toll gate was reported at snail speed.

The heaviest traffic jam was reported on the Friendship Highway to the Northeast, particularly at Kaeng Koi, Muak Lek, Pak Chong, and Lamtakong.

Highway police have to arrange reversible lane on the inbound traffic to ease congestion for outbound traffic, but still traffic remain at low speed due to huge numbers of vehicles.

Meanwhile holidaymakers also thronged bus terminal and Bangkok railway station for homes in the provinces.

Although extra buses and trains are added, it seemed still insufficient to meet passengers’ demand.

All stations were jam-packed with passengers hoping to get their seats.

Meanwhile transport officials and police are also deployed to monitor taxis and motorcycle taxis to prevent them from overcharging passengers coming to bus terminal to catch buses homes.

Any taxi driver found to overcharge may face revocation of public driving licence.

Land authorities also warned of drunk driving.

Any driver caught for drunk driving will have the vehicle impounded immediately and driver put in jail.

Meanwhile traffic in Bangkok during the Songkran period is expected to be light as almost all businesses will close and over a million people are expected to leave for homes in the provinces.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/158888

-- Thai PBS 2016-04-09

[bbbbooboo]

Songkran is the celebration of senseless slaughter of people on Thai roads

[KhunBENQ]

Songkran is the celebration of senseless slaughter of people on Thai roads

Which is disputable!

If you look at the total numbers over the days and compare it to the total number of deaths over the year, you will be surprised.

And what is the safest car travel in Thailand: jam-packed

Don't leave them a single stretch to speed and safe you are.

Edited April 10, 2016 by KhunBENQ

[apetley]

Songkran is the celebration of senseless slaughter of people on Thai roads

Which is disputable!

If you look at the total numbers over the days and compare it to the total number of deaths over the year, you will be surprised.

And what is the safest car travel in Thailand: jam-packed

Don't leave them a single stretch to speed and safe you are.

Depends if the figures released during the week are accurate or not.

Personally I have my doubts as previously been reported no deaths in our area when I know for a fact there was.

[impulse]

Depends if the figures released during the week are accurate or not.

Personally I have my doubts as previously been reported no deaths in our area when I know for a fact there was.

I always wonder why multiplying the death toll from the "7 deadly days" by 52 usually (almost always?) yields a number lower than the annual road death toll.

Edited April 10, 2016 by impulse

[HLover]

And in other breaking news...it's hot.

[KhunBENQ]

Songkran is the celebration of senseless slaughter of people on Thai roads

Which is disputable!

If you look at the total numbers over the days and compare it to the total number of deaths over the year, you will be surprised.

And what is the safest car travel in Thailand: jam-packed

Don't leave them a single stretch to speed and safe you are.

Depends if the figures released during the week are accurate or not.

Personally I have my doubts as previously been reported no deaths in our area when I know for a fact there was.

An Thai style improvement of the numbers: only those declared dead on the spot count as traffic victims.

If they are delivered to a hospital alive they are not

Other countries seem to include victims dying within 30 days (of the accident injuries?).

[ttthailand]

Has most of the travelers left Bangkok over the weekend ? Will Monday morning be busy ?

[impulse]

Has most of the travelers left Bangkok over the weekend ? Will Monday morning be busy ?

I'm forecasting a quite Monday tomorrow since many folks are stretching the weekend.

Next Saturday and Sunday? Bedlam.

[lujanit]

Last evening we left Central World around 1930 hours. It normally takes about 2+ hours to get home if we leave anytime before 2200. Last night we got home in 40 minutes. I love driving during Songkran in BKK.

[hgma]

Be it early....I sincerely wish all TV participants a Happy Songkran 2016!

[hgma]

1750 drunk drivers arrested only 3 cars confiscated and around 47 000 arrest warrents enforced @ 20 000 Arrests.

This is 11-4-2016 and the official Songkran is not even started.

Be careful outthere folks, there are far more people that love you alive that you know of.

HGMA