Deaths in road accidents higher than last Songkran but injuries down

The Road Safety Center said drunk driving remained the major cause of accidents. Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat came top with 10 deaths each and Chiang Rai reported the most cumulative injuries at 106 persons and the most cumulative accidents at 106 incidents.

Although there were more deaths than over last Songkran, Anusorn Eiamsaard, acting government spokesman, said on Monday that the number of injuries and road accidents were actually down from last year.

Twelve provinces had zero deaths from road accidents, namely Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Bua Lamphu, Chon Buri, Trat, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Trang, Pattani, Yala, Ranong and Satun. Anusorn said the government’s “Songkran Plodpai Tai Pen Soon” (Safe Songkran with 0 death rate) campaign – which includes promoting public awareness of Songkran road casualties, stricter implementation of traffic laws and the setting up of checkpoints to stop drunk driving –  has succeeded in lowering the number of accidents and hence made considerable savings in the public health budget.

Saying the government would continue its road safety campaign for various Thai holidays, Anusorn expressed the wish that all Songkran holidaymakers returned home safely.

At the Road Safety Center, Probation Department deputy chief Kasem Moonchan said, on April 15 alone 477 accidents claimed 43 lives and wounded 463 others – compared to the April 15 last year, which saw 443 accidents that killed 40 people and wounded 2,786 others. Drunk driving was the major cause at 42.28 per cent followed by speeding at 21.70 per cent. Most accidents (83.12 per cent) involved motorcycles.