5m join holiday exodus

About 5.29 million people set out on trips on Wednesday, a day before the long holiday began yesterday, according to the Transport Ministry’s road safety centre.

The centre cited figures of cars leaving Bangkok and passengers leaving the capital using public transport services. About 2.55 million passengers left Bangkok on Wednesday using public transport, including buses and vans, said Anon Luangboriboon, deputy permanent secretary for transport. The figure, however, was 1.12% less than expected, he said.

The number of cars, most of which were personal vehicles (2.74 million), left Bangkok the same day, in a 39.76% higher-than-expected figure, he said.

No public transport passenger was left stranded due to service shortages, and no major traffic congestion was reported during the mass exodus of holidaymakers from Bangkok, he said.

A total of 39 road accidents…