The 'Seven Dangerous Days' around Songkran are over so the balance can be made. This year there are more accidents and more injuries to report, the number of deaths is lower than last year.
From 11 to 17 April, 390 people died in traffic, 12 percent less than last year. 3.308 people were injured in 3.690 accidents and 7.512 vehicles were taken off the road, of which 5.677 were motorcycles. There are 25.000 checkpoints set up by the government with 200.000 officials.
As in previous years, driving under the influence and violation of the speed limit is the main cause of accidents. Motorcycles were involved in 85 percent of the accidents. More than 447.200 directors have received a lawsuit.
Most road deaths occurred in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani had the most accidents and injuries. Four provinces report no accidents: Krabi, Mae Hong Son, Narathiwat and Samut Songkhram.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit says that the number of road accidents remains high because Thais still get behind the wheel or sit on a motorbike with a sip. Prime Minister Prayut is therefore dissatisfied with the number of road deaths this year and says he will continue the fight to make Thailand's roads safer. The prime minister is also concerned about other problems during Songkran, such as gun use, fights and lewd behavior.
Source: Bangkok Post
Fewer deaths, in my opinion, means that the fleet will be modern and safer.
25.000 road deaths annually, an average of almost 70 per day.
During Songkran 390 in 7 days, an average of almost 58 per day.
Why seven dangerous days?
At first glance, it seems that there are fewer deaths during the Song Crane days than during normal days.
But if extra security measures had not been taken, the number of deaths during Songkran may have been double and on average considerably higher than on normal days.
So if the extra effort has paid off, more will be needed to fundamentally get the sad numbers down.
Nico B
The number of accidents therefore continues to rise despite all the extra measures. The cause is simply in the (drunken) driving behavior.
Enforcement of traffic rules and drink controls must be done at Songkran level all year round. Violations are subject to heavy fines. And in case of repeated violation, considerably heavier fines / confiscation of driving license. If that does not happen, there will be more accidents again during the coming Christmas / New Year's Eve.
And, above all, enforce compulsory helmet use through substantial fines. And very regular checks.
Only checking and fining during 7 dangerous days is completely insufficient.
Whether there has really been an improvement due to the actual rethinking of the Thai, I dare to doubt.
Due to the fact that more accidents have happened, with more injuries and fewer deaths, you could also say that driving under the influence has not become less at all. The lower number of deaths is of course fortunate, but could just as well rise again in the coming years, given the more accidents. Only if we see a decline in the number of accidents in the next 5 years can we speak of a real improvement. An improvement that can only come about through a total rethinking of alcohol in traffic, and I don't see that happening so quickly with many Thais.
Fewer deaths? Could this be because the Thai is now driving a car with the new invention of 1 airbag in his car? Still amazes me about it, big spoilers and lots of chrome but nothing in the field of safety. Years ago in the Netherlands I drove a small French car, already equipped with 6 airbags. In my most luxuriously available pickup (made in Thailand) 1 airbag in the steering wheel at an additional cost. There was no more on the accessories list
The number of deaths on the road was always counted, not the number in the hospitals, which resulted
death from an accident.
Whether this “count” has been applied again this year is unknown to me.
It wouldn't surprise me.
This is a fairy tale doing the rounds on the internet.
All deaths are counted, including deaths in hospitals as a result of an accident.
Steve,
If you are right then we no longer have to talk about “7 dangerous days”. After all, 24.000 people die in traffic every year (= 65 p/d) and in Songkran (7 days) there were 390 deaths (= 55 p/d). So 10 deaths per day less than throughout the year on a daily basis. That is more than 15% less per day.
And there are certainly still victims in hospitals, who eventually die. The above statistic will probably not be corrected.