Update on Songkran death toll

BANGKOK, April 15 (TNA) -- On April 14, there were 555 traffic accidents which killed 78 people and injured 601 others during Songkran holidays. Drink-driving and speed limit violations were the common causes. Bangkok recorded the highest number of the dead while the highest number of accidents was reported in Chiang Mai. Lt Gen Theerawat Boonyawat, civil affairs chief of the National Council for Peace and Order’s secretariat, said drunk drivers caused 39.82% of the accidents and speed limit violations were responsible for 32.07%. Motorcycles were involved in 78.83% of the traffic accidents, followed by pickup trucks (10.84%). The highest number of accidents, 26, was recorded in Chiang Mai province. The highest number of the injured, 26, was reported in Nakhon Ratchasima and Bangkok topped the dead toll table with nine killed victims on April 14. “From April 11 to 14, there were 2,216 traffic accidents in which 259 people were killed and 2,378 people were injured. The highest number of accumulated accidents, 100, was in Chiang Mai. The highest death toll, 14, was in Bangkok. The highest number of injured people, 104, was reported in Chiang Mai,” Lt Gen Theerawat said. The figures relating to traffic accidents were higher year-on-year, so more checkpoints would be set up on local roads. About 100,000 officials would be deployed at road checkpoints to promote road safety, he said. He blamed more traffic accidents and greater damage on the number of vehicles which, he said, grew by 12%. (TNA)