Songkran lives up to deadly image

BANGKOK Thailand’s highway carnage over the seven deadly days of Songkran, 11 to 17 April, reached 390 fatalities, a decline of 11.76%, or 52 deaths, when compared to the identical seven days during the 2016 festival.

The Road Safety Directing Centre said it averages out at 56 deaths per day over the seven-day travel period, a statistic that resembles war zone casualties.

However, to put the death toll during the festival in perspective, the World Health Organisation’s 2015 statistics puts Thailand’s annual death toll from road accidents at 24,237, or on average 66 deaths a day.

Based on data for the last 10 years the average toll during Songkran is 50 deaths a day.

Injuries from road accidents during this year’s Songkran increased 4.16% to 3,808 compared to 3,656 in 2016. Road accidents (incidents rather than injuries) increased 7.05% to 3,690 compared to 3,447 during the same period last year.

Nakhon Ratchasima gained notoriety as provinces with the worst record with 17 fatalities following by Chiang Rai (15) and Sakon Nakhon (13).

Udon Thani was the top hot spot for road injuries 168 ahead of Chiang Mai (164) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (111).

Udon Thani also suffered the most road accidents  at 161, ahead of Chiang Mai (158) and Phitsanulok (107).

The centre identified there were four provinces that were free of fatal accidents during the holiday. There were Krabi, Narathiwat, Mae Hong Son and Samut Songkram.

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