15-4-2024 (BANGKOK) As Songkran festivities draw to a close, the nation mourns the loss of 162 lives in traffic accidents, marking the notorious “seven dangerous days” of the festival. According to official reports released on Sunday, a total of 1,259 traffic accidents occurred, leaving 1,279 individuals injured.
On the final day alone, Sunday, 317 accidents were recorded, resulting in 38 fatalities and 311 injuries. Assistant National Police Chief Pol Lt-General Kornchai Klaiklueng expressed concerns as many travellers began their journey back to urban centres like Bangkok, anticipating heightened risks of accidents and heavy traffic. To mitigate these risks, Traffic Police will collaborate with provincial authorities to intensify checks at roadblocks, particularly near event venues and during night hours.
Speeding remains the primary cause of accidents, accounting for 37.22% of cases, followed closely by drunk driving at 25.87% and poor visibility at 15.46%. Alarmingly, 87.51% of accidents involved motorbikes, with individuals aged between 20 and 29 being most vulnerable, constituting 20.92% of the total accidents.
Nan province recorded the highest number of accidents (14) and injuries (16) on Sunday, while Nakhon Sawan reported the highest number of fatalities, with three lives lost.
Over the preceding four days, Nakhon Si Thammarat witnessed the highest number of road accidents (50) and reported the most injuries (54). In contrast, Bangkok and Roi Et topped the list in total fatalities, both recording ten deaths each. Despite these grim statistics, 21 provinces reported zero deaths from traffic accidents during the same period, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the tragedy.
