BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s road safety center reported 1,108 crashes, 1,073 injuries and 216 deaths during the first six days of the Songkran travel season.
Six-day Songkran toll presented in Bangkok
According to the Thai Road Safety Center (ศปถ.), there were 1,108 traffic accidents nationwide between 10 and 15 April, resulting in 1,073 people injured and 216 fatalities over the six days of the campaign. The figures covered the official Songkran road safety period for the Buddhist year 2569.
The statistics were formally released on 16 April at 10:30 a.m. at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM/ปภ.) in Bangkok. Officials used the briefing to highlight both progress and persistent risks during one of the country’s busiest travel times.
Daily figures for 15 April
On 15 April, the sixth day of the “Drive safely, slow down, reduce accidents” campaign, the center recorded 156 accidents. These incidents left 161 people injured and 23 dead, according to the center’s daily summary.
The data underscored that the Songkran holiday continued to exact a heavy toll, even as authorities maintained intensive checks. The sixth day also showed how concentrated risks remained on specific routes and at peak travel times.
Speed and alcohol identified as main causes
The most frequent cause of accidents was excessive speed, accounting for 43.59 percent of cases. Driving under the influence of alcohol followed as the second-leading factor, responsible for 25.64 percent of crashes.
In this context, authorities emphasized a strict stance on drinking and driving.
“Alcohol must be zero,”
said the center’s leadership, announcing determined enforcement of existing regulations.
Motorcycles and road types most affected
Motorcycles were the vehicles most often involved in accidents, making up 67.84 percent of all cases in the statistics. Officials noted that this pattern reflected the widespread use of two-wheelers during the festival period.
Most accidents occurred on straight stretches of road, which accounted for 89.74 percent of crashes. They happened particularly frequently on routes under the responsibility of the Department of Highways, which saw 46.79 percent of all recorded incidents.
Peak danger hours and vulnerable age group
The most accident-prone period was between 18:01 and 21:00, during which 17.95 percent of all crashes were registered. Evening travel thus remained a critical window for enforcement and public warnings.
Among the injured and the dead, the age group from 20 to 29 years was most affected, making up 24.46 percent of victims. Authorities pointed to this as a sign that young adults remained especially exposed during Songkran travel.
Provinces with highest accident and death counts
On 15 April, Chiang Rai recorded the highest number of accidents at 10, as well as the most injured people at 11 and the most deaths at 3. The northern province therefore topped all three daily indicators.
Over the full six-day period, Phrae led the national statistics for accidents, with 47 cases, and for injuries, with 49 people hurt. In contrast, Bangkok reported the highest cumulative number of fatalities, with 19 deaths during the same timeframe.
Return traffic shifts focus to buses and checks
With many people returning to Bangkok and major provinces after Songkran, relevant agencies were asked to adjust their operational plans to the heavy return flow. The focus was placed on managing congestion and minimizing additional incidents.
The Thai Road Safety Center announced that it would strictly monitor the safety of interprovincial buses and driving staff. It also pledged to intensify checkpoints along key main routes to detect violations and unsafe vehicles.
“Power of community checkpoints” and local prevention
During the press conference, the leadership highlighted what it called the “power of community checkpoints” and the stronger role of local administrations. These village-level efforts were presented as a positive development.
According to the center, local teams had become more effective at intercepting drunk drivers before they reached main roads.
“They have helped more effectively to keep drinkers from driving by checking and screening them already in the villages at the starting point,”
said the press conference leadership.
Persistent problems: fatigue and unsafe vehicles
At the same time, officials continued to detect problems with over-tired drivers and vehicles that were not in a roadworthy condition. These weaknesses were observed despite the nationwide safety campaign.
The responsible agencies were urged by the Thai Road Safety Center to draw immediate lessons from these findings. They were asked to review additional control and service points at suitable locations and to tighten the enforcement of core bans more consistently.