56 dead already as muted Songkran starts

56 dead already as muted Songkran starts

Srinakarin Road is empty of traffic near the normally-packed Lam Salee intersection yesterday morning. Unusually light traffic has been seen on other roads in Bangkok during this week's Songkran holiday. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)
Srinakarin Road is empty of traffic near the normally-packed Lam Salee intersection yesterday morning. Unusually light traffic has been seen on other roads in Bangkok during this week's Songkran holiday. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Thirty people were killed and 374 injured in 357 road accidents throughout the country on April 11, the second day of this year's Songkran road safety campaign, deputy permanent secretary for the interior Ansit Samphantharat said yesterday.

The figures raised the death toll to 56 and the injured to 729 from a total of 705 accidents on April 10-11, the first two days of this year's holiday period, said Mr Ansit, who is chairman of a sub-committee for prevention and reduction of road accidents.

Speeding caused 34.4% of Sunday's accidents, followed by drink-driving at 24.3%, he said.

Motorcycles were involved in 87.1% of the accidents, he said. Most of the incidents, 26.89%, occurred between 4pm and 8pm, he said.

Nakhon Si Thammmarat in the South and Roi Et in the Northeast recorded the highest numbers of accidents with 16 each while Trang and Samut Prakan suffered the most deaths after three died in each province.

Nakhon Si Thammarat also registered the highest number injuries with 20 wounded on the roads, he said.

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