Thailand –
According to government reports, the number of accidents and casualties during the designated “Seven Dangerous Days” decreased significantly compared to previous years.
Our previous story:
Jirayu Huangsub, an advisor to the Prime Minister, announced that accident-related injuries fell by over 27%, while fatalities dropped by 8% compared to the average figures from the past three Songkran festivals. He attributed the success to intensified safety measures and proactive law enforcement efforts mandated by the Prime Minister before the holiday period.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), in collaboration with the Royal Thai Police, revealed that on April 17, 2025, the final day of heightened accident prevention efforts, Thailand recorded 147 accidents—a 34.38% decrease from the same day in 2024. Over the seven-day period, the country documented 1,538 accidents, marking a 25.12% reduction from the three-year average. Provinces with the highest accident counts included Phatthalung (63 incidents), Lampang (52 incidents), and Narathiwat (49 incidents).
Similarly, the number of injuries saw a sharp decline. A total of 1,495 people were injured over the seven days, reflecting a 26.89% drop from previous years. Phatthalung reported the highest number of injured individuals (61), followed by Lampang (58) and Narathiwat (53).
Fatalities also saw a promising reduction, with a total of 253 deaths recorded—down 8.33% from the three-year average. Bangkok had the highest fatality count (19), with Saraburi, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok (10 each), and Nakhon Ratchasima (9) following closely.
Enforcement of road safety laws played a crucial role in curbing accidents. Authorities cited over 609,000 violations related to ten major traffic offenses, including drunk driving (21,299 cases), speeding (164,036 cases), failure to wear helmets (141,992 cases), neglecting seatbelt use (32,616 cases), and driving against traffic flow (14,538 cases).
Officials credit the decline in accidents to continuous public awareness campaigns, strict law enforcement, and extensive cooperation among various governmental and private sectors. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to all agencies involved and urged authorities to maintain these successful safety measures for other major national celebrations.
While formal Songkran festivities have ended, extended celebrations, known as “Wan Lai,” continue in some regions until the end of April. Authorities remain vigilant, ensuring the continued safety of citizens and tourists throughout this period.
