BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thailand’s Road Safety Centre reported 1,108 crashes, 1,073 injuries and 216 deaths during the first six days of the Songkran travel season.
Six-day Songkran campaign toll
According to the Road Safety Centre, there were 1,108 road accidents between 10 and 15 April, leaving 1,073 people injured and 216 dead. The figures covered six days of the national safety campaign.
The data were officially presented at 10:30 a.m. on 16 April at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Bangkok. Officials framed the numbers as the interim balance for the Songkran travel period.
Daily figures for 15 April
On 15 April, the sixth day of the campaign “Drive safely, slow down, reduce accidents”, the centre recorded 156 crashes nationwide. These accidents resulted in 161 injuries and 23 deaths, according to the daily summary.
The daily report showed that this single day contributed a significant share of the overall fatalities. Authorities continued to review trends across the full campaign period.
Main causes: speed and alcohol
The most common cause of crashes was speeding, accounting for 43.59 percent of incidents. Driving under the influence of alcohol followed as the second major factor, at 25.64 percent.
Authorities underlined their zero-tolerance message on drinking and driving.
“Alcohol must be zero,”
said the centre’s leadership, announcing strict enforcement of existing rules.
Motorcycles and risky road sections
Motorcycles were the vehicles most often involved in crashes, making up 67.84 percent of all accidents. The statistics indicated a particular vulnerability of two-wheel traffic during the holiday.
Most accidents occurred on straight sections of road, which accounted for 89.74 percent of cases. Nearly half of all crashes happened on routes under the Department of Highways, at 46.79 percent.
Most dangerous hours and age group
The most accident-prone period was between 6:01 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., when 17.95 percent of crashes were recorded. Evening hours thus posed a heightened risk for travellers.
Among those injured and killed, the age group 20 to 29 was most affected, at 24.46 percent. Young adults therefore formed the largest share of victims in the six-day balance.
Provincial leaders in crashes and deaths
On 15 April, Chiang Rai recorded the highest number of accidents, with 10 cases. The province also logged the most injuries that day, with 11 people hurt, and the most deaths, with 3 fatalities.
Over the full six days, Phrae led in total accidents, with 47 cases, and in injuries, with 49 people hurt. Bangkok reported the highest cumulative number of deaths, with 19 fatalities.
Return traffic and tighter checks
As many people travelled back to Bangkok and larger provinces after Songkran, agencies were instructed to adjust their deployment plans to the return wave. The focus was on managing increased flows on major routes.
The Road Safety Centre announced that it would strictly monitor the safety of long-distance buses and drivers. It also pledged to strengthen inspections along key highways and main corridors.
“Power of community checkpoints” and local prevention
The leadership of the press conference highlighted what it described as the “power of community checkpoints”. Local administrative bodies were said to have taken on a stronger preventive role.
According to the briefing, these local checkpoints helped more effectively to keep drinkers from driving.
“They helped to prevent drinkers from driving by carrying out checks and screening already in the villages at the point of departure,”
said the centre’s representatives.
Ongoing problems: fatigue and unsafe vehicles
At the same time, officials continued to observe problems with fatigued drivers. Vehicles found to be in an unsafe or non-roadworthy condition also remained a concern.
The responsible authorities were urged by the Road Safety Centre to draw immediate lessons from these findings. They were asked to consider additional checkpoints and service points in suitable locations and to tighten enforcement of key prohibitions.