Alcohol Remains the Number One Cause of Road Accidents During Songkran Holiday

CHIANG RAI – Impaired driving remained the most common cause of road accidents and casualties during the first two days of Thailand’s Songkran holiday, despite strict enforcement of road safety measures.

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith held a press conference to announce the number of road accidents which took place on 12 April 2018 totaling 579, with the most common causes being drunk driving, speeding, and dangerously passing another vehicle respectively.

Among those cases, the most common type of vehicles were motorcycles, motorcycle taxis, and pick-up trucks.

The announcement of road accidents on daily basis is part of the campaign to promote road safety measures during the Songkran holiday or during 11-17 April 2018, with road checkpoints being set up across the country where 764,035 vehicles have been inspected and 154,773 persons being prosecuted for alleged violations of the traffic rules including 43,464 persons who failed to wear helmets, and 42,609 other who drove without driving licenses.

He added there were some 2.8 million vehicles leaving Bangkok during 11-12 April 2018, marking a 1.8 percent increase from the same period last year, along with 4.7 million public vehicles which, he said, might possibly be another factor contributing to road accidents.