181 die, 1,777 injured in three-day period of Songkran celebration

[tuanku]

If you drive a significant distance over Songkran, your experience will probably inform you that, at least subjectively, it is more dangerous than normal, especially after dark.

In the aftermath of the the 7 days, there seems to be a massive increase in the number of white painted outlines on the roads.

When looking at the published figures some questions arise;

1. Who is compiling these figures?

2. How is the information collected?

3. Who verifies it (and how)?

4. What is the (public and, possibly, hidden) agenda for publishing the figures?

5. Are there any influential groups who would benefit from publishing misleading or otherwise inaccurate data?

Regardless of the published data, I continue to believe that there is a significant increase in the number of accidents and casualties at this time.

[mikebell]

Road deaths in Thailand are 36 per 100,000. In Vietnam it is 24. There are far MORE bikes than cars in Vietnam so how does Thailand manage to trail so far behind Vietnam? Could it have anything to do with policing?

[Jim walker]

Not today a total really where most drivers have never sat a driving theory exam or driving test

[realfunster]

Fun fact:

Thailand has around 24,000 road fatalities per year (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate)

Averaging at 65 per day.

In this case, had this not been Songkran, we would expect 3*65 = 195 deaths. However, there have been only 181 deaths in 3 days, hence Songkran is safer than the average day.

Why all the headlines about this?!

Actually, I was under the impression that the average daily death toll was 85 per day. Making it 255 for three days, in which case the Thai government's safety campaign was VERY effective. Even at 65 deaths. that average would still be higher than the reported toll for these three days.

Sometimes it pays to look at the facts before slamming the government for not doing what it proposed. Perhaps we need to congratulate them this time for running an effective campaign!

That would entail believing the figures published, both sets, which I dont.

One only has to take short drive to know that the insanity level increases during this period and then easily extrapolate an increase in fatalities.

But feel free to cheer on the governments "facts".

As neither of us has access to any data we can quote as 100% valid, my own optimism will continue to cheer what appears to be positive results from a safety campaign. It makes me feel good to do so. I like to feel good about life.

Your pessimism may lead you to continue to believe it's all lies, if that's what makes you feel comfortable while living here. We are all free to chose our own realities.

Here's some 2016 stats for you FG :

3 days : 181 dead

4 days : 259 dead (refer today's update)

See post # 27 for a link to prior years' figures ( 7 days total ranging 270-370 deaths), which indicates zero improvement this year and probably a worsening final tally of > 400.

I fail to see any evidence to 'cheer what appears to be positive results from a safety campaign'.

Just look at the TV news page for the multitude of anecdotal evidence on multi-fatality crashes over the last few days.

I like to be optimistic & positive in outlook but I don't believe satisfaction is to be had in this regard in the area of Thai road safety, at any time of the year! I only see unnecessary deaths, broken families & heartache.

[rickudon]

As said, statistics no different to any other day of the year, Many deaths occur during the mass migration back home and back to work, Although undoubtedly a few people do suffer from being knocked off bikes by wet roads and buckets of water, I'm sure most are alcohol related - well it's a holiday. Here in Udon daytime the roads have been very quiet and after dire threats from the army, drought and the heat wave it's hard to find anyone playing water outside of the war zone - and even there no massive traffic jams.

[scouser]

A few facts to put the 2016 Songkran road fatalities into perspective:

1. Thailand is ranked second in the world in terms of traffic fatalities, with 44 deaths per 100,000 people.

2. In 2013, the last full year for which I can find figures, there were 24,237 road deaths in Thailand (the UK figure was 1,827).

3. The Thailand figure equates to a little over 66 road fatalities a day.

4. The average for any three day period in 2013 was 198 - 17 more than the three-day Songkran holiday in 2016.

[kaorop]

Fun fact:

Thailand has around 24,000 road fatalities per year (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_traffic-related_death_rate)

Averaging at 65 per day.

In this case, had this not been Songkran, we would expect 3*65 = 195 deaths. However, there have been only 181 deaths in 3 days, hence Songkran is safer than the average day.

Why all the headlines about this?!

Actually, I was under the impression that the average daily death toll was 85 per day. Making it 255 for three days, in which case the Thai government's safety campaign was VERY effective. Even at 65 deaths. that average would still be higher than the reported toll for these three days.

Sometimes it pays to look at the facts before slamming the government for not doing what it proposed. Perhaps we need to congratulate them this time for running an effective campaign!

That would entail believing the figures published, both sets, which I dont.

One only has to take short drive to know that the insanity level increases during this period and then easily extrapolate an increase in fatalities.

But feel free to cheer on the governments "facts".

As neither of us has access to any data we can quote as 100% valid, my own optimism will continue to cheer what appears to be positive results from a safety campaign. It makes me feel good to do so. I like to feel good about life.

Your pessimism may lead you to continue to believe it's all lies, if that's what makes you feel comfortable while living here. We are all free to chose our own realities.

Seems you cant work out what is fantasy and what is reality, there is a difference no matter how you (or I) want to delude ourselves.

How does the sand taste?

[FolkGuitar]

While the numbers for Songkran are worse this year than other Songkran years, the numbers per day are still lower than the daily national average. I'll take my pleasure knowing that a few more lives were saved. You may prefer take yours in the number that died. We all make our own choices.

[kaorop]

While the numbers for Songkran are worse this year than other Songkran years, the numbers per day are still lower than the daily national average. I'll take my pleasure knowing that a few more lives were saved. You may prefer take yours in the number that died. We all make our own choices.

You continue to try to put my stance as somehow enjoyable for me, while you ride the high horse, very weak liquid table condiment very weak, and of course as wrong as you are in the belief of the stats published.

Sand tastes good then?

[scouser]

Whatever the accurate statistics are for Songkran road fatalities, they would not appear to be wildly out of line with the daily average. However, I would draw comparison with the UK where Christmas/New Year accident statistics are widely published in the media. But the fact is the Christmas/New Year statistics are no worse than any other time of year. The reason for publishing them selectively is for 'shock' value which would not exist if published on a weekly basis.

[Assurancetourix]

Road deaths in Thailand are 36 per 100,000. In Vietnam it is 24. There are far MORE bikes than cars in Vietnam so how does Thailand manage to trail so far behind Vietnam? Could it have anything to do with policing?

In Vietnam the speed is limited at 60 km/h on the roads and in the cities there are so many bicycles and motocycles so it's very difficult , nearly impossible , to drive more than 20 km/h

In Vietnam the fines are very high

In Vietnam all motorcyclists ( 99,999 % ) wear a helmet

and in Vietnam they are not bouddhists so they don't believe they have seven lifes ...