As the Songkran holiday approaches, travelers are setting out for rural destinations, sparking worries among road safety advocates about potential upticks in road accidents beyond the traditionally identified “seven dangerous days” of travel.
This year, the “seven dangerous days” extend from today until April 17. Pol Lt Gen Kornchai Klayklueng, assistant national police chief, has declared the Royal Thai Police’s (RTP) goal of reducing road accidents by 5% during this timeframe.
With an expected 3.1% increase in road travelers compared to last year, especially on Friday and Saturday for departures from Bangkok and on April 16-17 for return trips, Pol Lt Gen Kornchai stressed the need for heightened law enforcement and safety measures. The RTP has set up an Accident Control Operation Centre specifically for the Songkran period.
In anticipation of potential traffic congestion causing delays, Pol Lt Gen Kornchai advised electric vehicle users to locate charging stations before their batteries run low. The Highway Police has compiled a list of routes with electric vehicle charging stations to assist EV users.
Expressing concern, Nikorn Jamnong, director of the Chartthaipattana Party and president of the People’s Safety Foundation, pointed out a troubling trend of increased accidents both before and after the “seven dangerous days” period. On Wednesday alone, there were 60 reported fatalities, compared to 30 during the same period last year, with motorcycles accounting for 50 of the deaths, including four expatriates.
With 4,207 road fatalities reported in the first quarter of this year, Nikorn emphasized the importance of authorities addressing road safety beyond the confines of the Songkran holiday dates.
Supporting these concerns, Prommin Kantiya, director of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation’s Accident Prevention Network, noted that some individuals have extended their holidays until April 21, prolonging the period of heightened road usage in the country.
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