46 Road Deaths on Songkran’s 1st ‘Dangerous Day’

A rescue worker stands near the scene of a fatal car accident early Thursday morning in Kanchanaburi province.
A rescue worker stands near the scene of a fatal car accident early Thursday morning in Kanchanaburi province.

BANGKOK — Nearly 500 road accidents have already killed 46 people on the first day of the “seven dangerous days” of Songkran.

The Department of Disaster Prevention today said drunk driving was the No.1 cause of the accidents Thursday throughout the country, followed by speeding. Nearly 80 percent of the accidents, which have injured 482 people, involved motorcycles.

Officials said more than 163,000 people were arrested and charged with violating traffic laws yesterday.

The seven-day period, infamous for high road carnage, began Thursday and will last through Wednesday.

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In 2018, the number of people killed in road accidents during the annual holiday was 418, slightly lower than the decade-high death toll of 442 in 2016.

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