Songkran death toll reaches 154 after four days of travel

Fifty-one people were killed and 224 others were injured in237 road accidents on Monday, bringing the death toll for the first four days of the weeklong Songkran travel period to 154.

Altogether, 705 people have been injured in 755 road accidents across the country, according to the Road Accident Prevention and Reduction Operations Centre.

Speeding has been blamed for 41.77% of the accidents, followed by drunk driving (27.43%). 70.93% of the accidents involved motorcycles. 75.53% of the accidents occurred on straight roads and 36.29% on local roads.

20.25% of the accidents occurred between 3 pm and 6 pm. 20.25% of the casualties are in 20-29 age group. Bangkok has the highest death toll (8). Pathum Thani and Loei each recorded four deaths. Chumphon and Chiang Rai each reported 12 road accidents in four days.

As today is the ‘“Family Day’, when many Thais are expected to pay respects to their elderly relatives, visit temples for merit-making or enjoy the Songkran celebrations, the command centre has instructed all provincial administrations to advise motorists and motorcyclists to exercise caution and to refrain from driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Traffic on the country’s main highways is expected to be congested today, as many people are expected to travel back to Bangkok to avoid traffic gridlock at the end of Songkran festival tomorrow.