Songkran road death toll rises to 200 on sixth day
Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have once again been marred by tragedy, with the road death toll rising to 200, with over 1,300 injured in just six days of road mayhem.
The Road Safety Centre reported that from April 11 to 16, the bulk of the annual Seven Dangerous Days campaign, a staggering 1,377 road accidents occurred across the country. The leading culprits? Speeding and motorcycles.
At a press briefing today, April 17, Kachorn Srichavanothai, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, shared the grim statistics. Just yesterday, April 16 alone, there were 155 road accidents, leading to 22 deaths and 149 injuries.
“The vast majority of accidents involve motorcycles, so we are urging officers to closely monitor helmet usage at checkpoints,” said Kachorn. “Even though many have returned to work, others are still travelling back from holiday destinations — we will continue strict enforcement.”
Breakdown by province for April 16:
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Most accidents & injuries: Lampang (9 respectively)
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Most fatalities: Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Pathum Thani, Ang Thong, and Phetchaburi (2 deaths each)
Cumulative totals from April 11–16:
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Total road accidents: 1,377
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Total fatalities: 200
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Total injuries: 1,362
Top provinces for incidents include:
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Most accidents: Phatthalung (52)
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Most injuries: Lampang (56)
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Highest death toll: Bangkok (16)
Nationwide, 15 provinces recorded zero deaths, a slight silver lining in an otherwise grim picture, reported The Nation.
Saharat Wongsakulwiwat, Deputy Director General of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, urged returning motorists to ensure they are well-rested and that their vehicles are roadworthy.
“Fatigue and mechanical failures are a deadly combination. Please drive safely.”
With one final day of Songkran travel remaining, officials remain on high alert. The message is clear: slow down, stay alert, and don’t become a statistic.
In similar news, Thailand has rolled out its very own Robocop, making a high-tech debut during the Songkran water festival in Nakhon Pathom. The Royal Thai Police introduced AI Police Cyborg 1.0, the country’s first AI-powered robot officer, as it patrolled the bustling Tonson Road festivities. Tourists and locals were left wide-eyed as the futuristic figure monitored the crowd.
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