These compare with 442 fatalities in 2016 (up from 364 in 2015) 3,565 injures (3,559 in 2015) and 3,447 accidents in the same period last year (3,373 in 2015).
The figures for April 11 to 17 this year were released by Interior Permanent Secretary Grisada Boonrach today (Apr 18).
Mr Grisada attributed the fall in the death toll from last year to the government’s campaign enforcing the use of seat belts and against Songkran revellers sitting in the trays of pickup trucks. The two most common causes of accidents were drink-driving (43%) and speeding (28%). Motorcycles were involved in 85% of the accidents, he said. The most common hours for traffic accidents were between 4pm and 8pm.
The highest death toll was in Nakhon Ratchasima province, with 17. Udon Thani reported the highest number of injured (168) and accidents (161).
Four provinces were fatality free - Krabi, Mae Hong Son, Narathiwat and Samut Songkhram.
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said more than 200,000 officials had manned about 25,000 checkpoints nationwide during the seven-day road safety campaign.
Although the death toll was down on 2016, the number of traffic accidents did not fall because too many drivers still drank alcohol.
In a bid to curb the number of accidents and fatalities, officials had impounded 7,512 vehicles, including 5,677 motorcycles, from drink-drivers, Gen Prawit said.
He said 447,198 people faced prosecution for traffic violations during Songkran period.
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