The first two days of the seven-day Songkran holidays have seen a staggering total of 460 road accidents across Thailand, leading to 59 tragic fatalities and leaving 458 individuals injured, according to recent announcements from the Road Safety Centre on Sunday.
Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong provided updates during a press conference at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, emphasizing ongoing monitoring of road incidents since April 11—marking the first day of the Songkran travel period. “Saturday alone saw 248 accidents, resulting in 30 deaths and 257 injuries,” noted Tawee.
Mukdahan Tops List for Accidents and Injuries
Mukdahan emerged as the province with the highest number of road accidents, recording 23 incidents. Following closely are Chiang Rai with 16 accidents and Phatthalung with 15. Injuries were also most prevalent in Mukdahan, where 25 people sustained injuries, followed by Lamphun and Chiang Rai.
Bangkok Records Highest Number of Deaths
Despite Bangkok’s roads being less congested due to mass outbound travel during the holidays, the capital recorded the highest fatalities with 9 deaths over the first two days, while Lamphun followed with 3 fatalities.
Speeding and Drunk Driving Main Causes
According to the Road Safety Centre, excessive speed was the leading cause of accidents, accounting for 59 cases, with drunk driving following at 55 cases. Notably, Tawee highlighted that 51% of incidents occurred on highways during the initial days of travel. However, as celebratory activities progress, a shift in accident locations to rural roads is expected.
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