At least 191 people have been killed in traffic accidents three days before Thailand’s annual Songkran festival, dubbed “the world’s biggest water war”, marking a grim start to this year’s celebrations.The Thai New Year holiday, usually marked by the week-long Songkran festival that symbolizes rebirth, has been overshadowed by a surge in road accidents, injuries and deaths, the New York Post reported. Official figures show that a total of 951 accidents and 911 injuries were reported during this period.The death toll remains high despite a series of government measures, including a road safety campaign, stricter enforcement of drink-driving laws and more police checkpoints. Authorities said 51 people died on the first day of the celebrations alone.Speeding has become the main cause of death, accounting for 42% of deaths, followed by drunk driving, accounting for 27.4%. Officials also cited dangerous behavior such as not wearing a helmet as a major reason.The Ministry of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation noted that “accidents occur most often between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.”The Songkran festival triggers mass travel across Thailand, with millions of people leaving major cities such as Bangkok to return home, increasing road congestion and the risk of accidents. The festive period is often referred to as the “Seven Danger Days” due to the surge in road casualties.The festival is expected to attract about 500,000 international visitors and generate 30.4 billion baht in revenue, and law enforcement has also taken action, with seven French tourists arrested for allegedly causing a public nuisance by blocking traffic during the festivities.Data from the Road Accident Victims Protection Corporation shows that an average of 38 people die in road traffic accidents in Thailand every day throughout the year, with the death toll rising sharply during Songkran.According to the World Health Organization, Thailand is one of the most dangerous countries for road traffic accidents among member countries.
