Songkran road accidents claim 82 lives and 1,049 injuries in two days

[webfact]

Songkran road accidents claim 82 lives and 1,049 injuries in two days

 

 

BANGKOK: -- As Songkran holidaymakers continued to travel out of the capital to celebrate the week-long Thai New Year holiday by motor vehicles on roads today, the Road Safety Centre said a total of 82 people have died and 1,049 injured in the first two days of the 7-dangerous day campaign that began from April 11 to 17.

 

The centre said that only yesterday, April 12, 48 were killed and 630 injured in 586 road accidents nationwide.

 

Major cause of road accidents remain to be drunk driving or 42.32%, followed by speeding 30.38%.

 

Motorcycle continues to be the vehicle that engaged in most road accidents or 84.16%.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/songkran-road-accidents-claim-82-lives-1049-injuries-two-days/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-04-13

[webfact]

Military enforces tough traffic law, seizes over 500 motor vehicles in first day

 

 

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) says over 30,000 traffic offenders will face court trials, and more than 500 motor vehicles seized after authorities began to enforce traffic law strictly to curb road accidents during the week long Songkran festival.

 

NCPO deputy spokesperson Col Sirichan Ngathong said on the first day of the tightened enforcement of traffic law yesterday under a slogan “drunk driving to face car seizure” campaign, authorities found 32,782 violations involving motorcycles.

 

She said 535 motor vehicles were seized, and driving licences of 433 drivers were confiscated.

 

Authorities will send 30,071 offenders to trial.

 

She went on saying that for public transportation offences, authorities found 27,3370 violations by drivers of passenger buses and personal cars.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/military-enforces-tough-traffic-law-seizes-over-500-motor-vehicles-in-first-day/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-04-13

[johncat1]

So of the 630 inured how many of those died on the way to the hospital or shortly after ?    The TRUE death figures will be much higher for sure 

[AGareth2]

motorcycles

that is the vehicle to focus on

[darksidedog]

These people have shown beyond doubt that they can't drive at the best of times. And once silly season arrives, what little common sense they have gets washed away with the first squirt from a water pistol. At least this year the cops are putting in some effort, though the stupidity of many drivers means it will likely make little difference.

 

[balo]

I would say good job by the military ! Keep it up. 

 

[AGareth2]

4 minutes ago, balo said:

I would say good job by the military ! Keep it up. 

 

where is the irony smiley?

[dcnx]

Same as last year, I haven't seen a single police officer in the past 24 hours. No road blocks, nothing. 

[jaiyen]

Over 30,000 people going to trial !! That will take years ! No, decades !  And where will they store all the cars !!  250 every day .  Drivers are getting a big wake up call. Maybe they will stop falling asleep at the wheel ! Praise to the police for a change.

[onemorechang]

Yes a number,  to be truly proud of.

Happy new year

[Happyman58]

wait the fun is about to start I still think 500 dead will be close to the mark

[dinsdale]

2 hours ago, johncat1 said:

So of the 630 inured how many of those died on the way to the hospital or shortly after ?    The TRUE death figures will be much higher for sure 

You wont know the true figure. Thailand has a statistical system where if someone does not die within 24 hrs of the accident they are not included in the road fatality stats. 

[dinsdale]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Major cause of road accidents remain to be drunk driving or 42.32%, followed by speeding 30.38%.

 

So how many drunk drivers are also speeding. What it should say is major cause of 72.7% of road accidents caused by drunk driving, speeding, inconsiderate idiots.

[seajae]

drove 300 k and though we saw several gazebo tents set up on the side of the road the police were just sitting inside drinking, none on the road and there was only one where the cars had to merge into 1 lane, so much for the police out in force checking all the drivers. Think this is just an overtimes for many with actually working the last thing on their minds

 

[the guest]

Accidents, injury, death ... same same every year, no different !

[Happyman58]

1 hour ago, seajae said:

drove 300 k and though we saw several gazebo tents set up on the side of the road the police were just sitting inside drinking, none on the road and there was only one where the cars had to merge into 1 lane, so much for the police out in force checking all the drivers. Think this is just an overtimes for many with actually working the last thing on their minds

 

You are so right I saw 2 of those tents in Ubonratchathani I asked the wife what are those suppose to be? She said the police check motorists for drink driving etc Did not look to me like they were doing that to much They had no cars pulled up and most of the cops were busy texting on there phones Just another bit of bullshit But hey it looks like they are trying to do something Ha ha

[sweatalot]

Military enforces tough traffic law, seizes over 500 motor vehicles in first day

 

'Why only at Songkran?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Songkran is the safest time to travel. About 26 000 people die on the Thai roads every year = 71 per day average. If 82 died in the first 2 days its 41 per day which is way below the average.

[wakeupplease]

You would think with all the publicity this has had over the last 3 months they they would take at least a bit of notice, but stupid is stupid or brain less brain dead people occupy this neck of the woods.

I really thought this time with all the publicity we would see a different result over Songkran, but alas this lot still live in prehistorical times

 

Cannot believe this, glad I am not there.

 

For god sake Wake Up Please

[Pattaya28]

National statistic is 75 road deaths a day.

25,000+ a year.

So this statistic is less than the average.

Again, we have manipulated statistics.

Edited April 13, 2017 by Pattaya28

[TheLobster]

Drove from Donsak down to the Malaysian border and back Tuesday/Wednesday. Very few checkpoints were doing any checks ..... 700km and only 2 checkpoints were manned. Most of the rest of the checkpoints did have personnel but they were sitting in their gazebos, not sure what they were doing.

[Bundaberg Baxter]

The way they drive says a lot about most Thais, selfish, recklessly dangerous and with an almost total disregard for the safety of themselves and all other road users. They need a real driving test and the rules enforced, unfortunately most do not even know what the rules of the road are, except me first and you get out of the way.

[khunpa]

This will never change.

 

In a place where people are forbidden to learn from mistakes and wrongdoing due to a totally screwed op "Lose Face" concept, there is little hope for real change.

 

Every year... again and again people are warned not to drink and drive. They are advised to wear helmets, drive slowly etc.

 

And still nobody gets it. You just can't feed a brain with logic, when it's trained to never learn from or accept mistakes. And the blame when something bad happens, will never be taken personally.

Edited April 13, 2017 by khunpa