Songkran road death toll in 6 days  rises to 378 deaths, 3,575 injuries 

Road accidents during the past six days of the long Songkran holidays from April 11-16 have claimed the lives of 378 people, and injured 3,575 others.

Only on Monday April 16, 49 people died and 464 others were injured in 426 road accidents which happened in a single day yesterday, according to the Road Safety Centre.

The centre spokesman Lt Gen Thanes Kalapruek said motorcycle crashes topped most accidents yesterday or 81.80%.

Speeding was blamed as the major cause (28.47%), followed by drunk driving (27.28%), he said.

Most accidents happened in straight part of the roads (64.0%), highways  (39.6%), and secondary roads in rural areas (34.82%).

Most accident time was between 16.01 and  20.00 hrs.

In total, he said, 378 died and  3,575 were injured in  3,418 cases of accidents during the past six days of the holidays from April 11-16.

He said the ages of most victims were from 50 and over or  28.07%.

He said 65,226 officials were pisted on duties during the  period and 856,446 vehicles were checked.

He said 176,415 drivers were arrested which 49,866 of them for not wearing helmets, and 46,067 for having no driving licences.

Nakhon Ratchasina had the highest death toll of 19 in six days, while Chiang Mai had the highest injuries of 136 and highest accidents of 126 cases.

Provinces with zero death toll during the six day period were Yala, Ranong, Satun, Samut Songkram, Nong Khai and Nong Bualampoo.