Songkran day one sees 20 deaths, 135 road accidents

Twenty people were killed and 132 others injured in 135 road accidents across the country on the first day of Songkran holiday travel, according to the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Details of the accidents and their causes are as follows:

• Speeding accounted for 37.78% of the accidents, followed by dangerous lane changes at 22.96%.

• Motorcycles were involved in 70.49% of the accidents, with 78.52% occurring on straight roads, 48.12% on highways and 20.74% on rural roads.

• 21.48% of the accidents occurred between 3pm and 6pm.

• 18.24% of those killed were aged 60–69.

• Trang and Songkhla recorded the highest number of accidents, with eight each.

• Prachin Buri and Songkhla recorded the highest death toll, with two each.

Traffic on major highways is expected to be heavier today as more people travel to their hometowns or tourist destinations.

Teerapat Kachamat, director-general of the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said he has instructed provincial authorities to tighten checkpoints on local roads and urged the public to strictly comply with traffic laws.