Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported the road death toll already at 101.

CHIANG RAI– A total of 62 people were killed and 496 injured in 465 road accidents nationwide on Friday, the second of Songkran’s “seven dangerous days” (April 11-17), the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Saturday.

 The department on Friday reported the road death toll at 39.

Combined accidents over the first two days reached 791, with 101 deaths and 838 injuries, according to the department.

Chiang Mai had the most road accidents at 18. Provinces with the most fatalities were Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Roi Et and Prachuap Khiri Khan, with three each.

Prachuap Khiri Khan had the most injuries at 21. Accident-free provinces were Si Sa Ket and Trat.

The main causes of the accidents were drunk driving and speeding. Motorcycles and pickup trucks were involved in the largest number of accidents. Read the original story here.

Songkran 2012

Songkran is one of the most dangerous times to be on the roads in Thailand. During this holiday and the one over the new year, the Disaster Prevention Department releases daily statistics. This year, there are 7 Dangerous Days of Songkran from 11th-17th April 2012.

11-17 April 2012: Most accidents were caused by drunk driving (38.76%) followed by speeding (20.53%).  The vehicles involved in accidents were motorcycles (81.12%), pick-up trucks (10.03%), car/taxi (3.55%), truck (0.55%), bus (0.30%) and van (.027%). Accidents happened the most on roads through villages (35.18%) and on highways (33.00%).  The majority of accident happened on straight roads (57.73%). Most accidents happened between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. (31.73%) followed by 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (25.75%). Of those who were injured or were killed, most were over 50 years of age (18.15%), followed by 30-39 years of age (17.13%) and 15-19 years of age (17.08%). A total of 11.00% were less than 15 years old.

The safest places in Thailand were Trat and Yasothon with only one accident each in 7 days. This is followed by Chachoengsao (2), Nong Khai (3) and Chaiyaphum (3). Six provinces had no deaths during the last 7 days. These were Trang, Trat, Nakhon Phanom, Pattani, Ranong and Satun.

The most dangerous province was Chiang Rai with 125 accidents, followed by Nakhon Sawan (118) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (108). The province with the most deaths was Surat Thani with 13 deaths. This was followed by Nakhon Si Thammarat & Saraburi (11 each) and Nakhon Sawan & Pichit (10 each).

TOTALS:

2007: 361 deaths, 4,805 injuries and 4,274 accidents
2008:  368 deaths, 4,801 injuries and 4,243 accidents
2009: 373 deaths, 4,332 injuries and 3,977 accidents
2010: 361 deaths, 3,802 injuries and 3,516 accidents
2011: 271 deaths, 3,476 injuries and 3,215 accidents
2012: 320 deaths, 3,320 injuries and 3,129 accidents