Thai govt reveals causes of accidents during Songkran

BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) – Driving at high speeds and drunk driving are among the major causes of traffic accidents during the 2017 Songkran festival as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged people to drive carefully, the Thai government spokesperson said. Lt. Gen. Sansern Keawkamnerd, spokesman of the Prime Minister’s Office, said Prime Minister Prayuth warned drivers to drive consciously when traveling back to the capital Bangkok following the five-day Songkran holidays. Also, traffic officers should tighten regulations and provide convenience for the drivers to ensure that they will arrive at their destinations safely. Lt. Gen. Sansern added that driving at high speeds was the number one cause of road accidents, followed by suddenly cutting in front of another car and driving under the influence of alcohol. Nonetheless, the accumulated number of fatalities fell by nearly 20 per cent from last year’s Songkran thanks to good cooperation from the public, and government’s road safety measures and campaigns. In addition, the prime minister ordered relevant agencies to conclude the statistics on road accidents to be used in road accident prevention in the future. (TNA)