Officers insist total traffic accidents, deaths during ‘7 Dangerous Days of Songkran’ not so bad

Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation — or DDPM — announced on Monday that the total traffic accidents and resulting deaths during last week’s “Seven Dangerous Days of Songkran” had actually reduced, compared to the average for the past three years, even though the number of deaths this year had increased.

According to a summary of the data from the DDPM, from April 11 to 17, there were 1,917 accidents, 1,869 injuries and 278 deaths in total. The northern province of Chiang Rai had the most accidents, with 66, while Bangkok had the most deaths, with 13. The main causes of the accidents were speeding, at nearly 41%, and drink driving, at nearly 22%. Motorbikes were the most frequent vehicle involved in the reported road accidents.

The number of traffic accidents and resulting injuries was fewer than the average for the past three years, according to…