A total of 39 people were killed and 342 injured in 326 road accidents throughout the country on Thursday, the first of the “seven dangerous days” (April 11-17) of Songkran, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Friday.
Traffic on the Friendship Highway in Phon district, Khon Kaen, is jammed on Friday as people head for home or tourist destinations in other provinces. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
Anusorn Kaewkangwan, deputy director general of the department, said the number of road accidents was down by 17 on the same period last year.
The number of injuries had also dropped by 31, but the number of road deaths was up by nine, he added.
Chiang Mai and Nakhon Si Thammarat had the most road accidents, at 14 each, Mr Anusorn said.
Provinces with the most fatalities were Kanchanaburi, Samut Sakhon, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ayutthaya, Yasothon and Songkhla, with three each.
The provinces which remained accident-free were Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Trat, Si Sa Ket, Nong Khai, Amnat Charoen, Samut Songkhram, Pattani and Yala.
The main causes of accidents were drunk driving and speeding. Motorcycles and pickup trucks were involved in the largest number of accidents.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, there were 3,129 road accidents over Songkran in 2012, down from 3,215 reported in 2011. The number of injuries also dropped to 3,320 in 2012 from 3,476 in 2011.
However, the number of fatalities in 2012 went up to 320, from 271 in 2011. Of these, 60% involved motorcycle drivers and pillion riders who were not wearing safety helmets and had been drinking, the ministry said.
Exactly 20% of the road deaths were young people, including children, aged below 20-years-old, it added.