The six-day Songkran festival holiday in Thailand ended in tragedy as road accidents claimed the lives of 243 people and left 1,837 others injured. As announced by Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob on Wednesday, some 1,811 traffic accidents were recorded from April 11 to 16, coinciding with the period when many individuals travel back to their home provinces to join in the Songkran celebrations. Motorcycles were implicated in 84.9% of these traffic accidents. Chiang Rai, the northernmost province, reported the highest number of accidents, with a total of 71, and also saw the most fatalities, with 15 deaths. In another northern province, Phrae, 68 people sustained injuries, the highest injury toll across all provinces. However, not all news was grim; there were nine provinces out of the total 77 that reported zero traffic fatalities during the Thai New Year festival, according to Permpoon. On the final day of the road safety campaign, which was yesterday April 16, there were 242 traffic incidents, resulting in 32 deaths and 237 injuries. Speeding was identified as the leading cause of these accidents, accounting for 37.6%, while drink-driving (23.9%) and reckless lane-switching (21%) followed closely. Permpoon informed that most individuals who had travelled for Songkran had returned to work by this point.
Yes, I’m well aware that the holiday has the highest number of traffic fatalities as compared with any other time of year. In the United States the highest rates are typically around Independence Day and Labor Day. It’s the same all over the world. It’s important for people to drive safely during these times, I totally agree but I don’t think the holidays should be canceled or looked upon for simply those statistics. I debated including some of that data in the video but decided that it’s not really my role and to just try and show the happiness that the holiday brings. I hope that you wouldn’t want to slight a person for celebrating Labor Day. None the less, I hope people read the statistics you pasted and take care in how they celebrate.
That number is actually down by quite a bit from prior years. Not sure what your point is with this post. We all know roads are dangerous here and that’s not changing.
Fun video guys 👍🏻 hope all is going well for you both 🤗
Enough trash out there on the event. Wanted to show the other side and give the locals something to feel good about.
Hi Ed and Tomo, cool video and I want to learn more.
Glad you enjoyed it. Subscribe for more good stuff!!
Been doing Songkran off and on for 15 years with my Thai wife. Honestly at this stage I’m about done with it.
Yeah, I got to be the same way about Halloween in NY.
Songkran followed me from Chewang to Pattaya. Much wilder in Pattaya......
Glad to hear you had a good time. We will catch up next time!
Looks like a great place to live - not as touristy as Koh Samui.
Yeah, we really like it. Not as many western restaurants but the trade off’s are worth it.
One of my favorite days of the year. From 8 to 80 everyone gets the opportunity to discover their child within….Sa Nok Maak….🙏🏼👍🏼
So very true! We had a blast!!
The six-day Songkran festival holiday in Thailand ended in tragedy as road accidents claimed the lives of 243 people and left 1,837 others injured. As announced by Education Minister Permpoon Chidchob on Wednesday, some 1,811 traffic accidents were recorded from April 11 to 16, coinciding with the period when many individuals travel back to their home provinces to join in the Songkran celebrations. Motorcycles were implicated in 84.9% of these traffic accidents.
Chiang Rai, the northernmost province, reported the highest number of accidents, with a total of 71, and also saw the most fatalities, with 15 deaths. In another northern province, Phrae, 68 people sustained injuries, the highest injury toll across all provinces. However, not all news was grim; there were nine provinces out of the total 77 that reported zero traffic fatalities during the Thai New Year festival, according to Permpoon.
On the final day of the road safety campaign, which was yesterday April 16, there were 242 traffic incidents, resulting in 32 deaths and 237 injuries. Speeding was identified as the leading cause of these accidents, accounting for 37.6%, while drink-driving (23.9%) and reckless lane-switching (21%) followed closely. Permpoon informed that most individuals who had travelled for Songkran had returned to work by this point.
Yes, I’m well aware that the holiday has the highest number of traffic fatalities as compared with any other time of year. In the United States the highest rates are typically around Independence Day and Labor Day. It’s the same all over the world.
It’s important for people to drive safely during these times, I totally agree but I don’t think the holidays should be canceled or looked upon for simply those statistics.
I debated including some of that data in the video but decided that it’s not really my role and to just try and show the happiness that the holiday brings. I hope that you wouldn’t want to slight a person for celebrating Labor Day.
None the less, I hope people read the statistics you pasted and take care in how they celebrate.
@@edandtomo Whats Labour Day ??
That number is actually down by quite a bit from prior years. Not sure what your point is with this post. We all know roads are dangerous here and that’s not changing.
@@BillonBass --not seeing my point is perhaps more your problem than mine .