Overall figures for this year’s Songkran period showed marked improvement compared with the three-year average, Thiraphat Khatchamart, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, who chairs the Road Safety Directing Centre, said on Friday (Apr 17).
The statistics compiled by the centre for Thursday, the seventh and final day of the campaign recorded 123 accidents, resulting in 123 injuries and 17 fatalities, reported the Bangkok Post.
Speeding was the leading cause of accidents, accounting for 40.65%, followed by cutting-in at close range at 25.20%.
Motorcycles were involved in the majority of incidents (64.55%). Most accidents occurred on straight roads (87.80%), particularly on highways (44.72%) and local roads under tambon administrative organisations and villages (27.64%).
By province, Chiang Rai recorded the highest number of accidents (eight), Pattani the highest number of injuries (11), and Nakhon Pathom the highest number of fatalities (three) on the final day, said Mr Thiraphat.
As for cumulative figures for the seven-day period from Apr 10-16, there were a total of 1,242 accidents, 1,200 injuries and 242 deaths across the country.
Phrae topped the list for cumulative accidents (48 cases) and injuries (50 people), while Bangkok recorded the highest number of fatalities (21 deaths).
Ten provinces reported zero deaths ‒ Nakhon Phanom, Bueng Kan, Pattani, Phang Nga, Rayong, Satun, Samut Songkhram, Sing Buri, Nong Bua Lamphu and Mae Hong Son.
Compared with the government’s target under the 2026 road safety action plan, which aims for at least a 5% reduction from the three-year Songkran average, the campaign exceeded expectations. Accidents fell by 35.59%, injuries by 37.53% and fatalities by 9.70%, said Mr Thiraphat.
Last year, the final figures for the Songkran campaign (Apr 11-17) recorded 1,538 accidents, 1,495 injuries and 253 deaths.