The number of deaths this year was 35 per cent higher than during the same period last year, when there were 2,406 road accidents that claimed 251 lives and injured 2,532 others.

The fatality-free provinces were Trat, Pattani, Phatthalung, Phrae, Yala, Ranong, Samut Sakhon, and Nong Bua Lamphu, according to Chaweerat Kasetsunthorn, assistant to the Culture Minister. She spoke to the media at the Road Safety Directing Centre yesterday.

Bangkok had the most road fatalities at 15, while Chiang Mai had the highest tally of people injured, at 144, and the most accidents with 136 cases over the first five days, she said.

On Friday alone, 508 accidents claimed 79 lives and left 513 people injured.

Most stemmed from drunk driving (34 per cent), followed by speeding (30 per cent) and involved motorcycles (80 per cent), followed by pickup trucks (10 per cent). Most accidents – 30 per cent – occurred between 4pm and 8pm and took place on highways (37 per cent) and tambon/village roads (36 per cent), Chaweerat |said.

From April 9-15, a total of 81,541 drunk drivers were arrested and 4,609 vehicles (including 3,488 motorcycles and 1,121 cars) were impounded nationwide, as part of the government’s policy against drunk driving during this Songkran, Chaweerat said.

Interior Ministry deputy permanent secretary Chayapol Thitisak said the centre stressed that provinces and related agencies needed to integrate their work and intensively implement accident-prevention measures.

They were also instructed to do an in-depth study and analyse information to identify contributing factors behind the road accidents so as to achieve effective road-safety measures and strategies that fit the pattern of holidaymakers’ travel, he said.

Many people made their journeys back to work in Bangkok and nearby provinces yesterday, leading to heavier traffic on highways, while transport hubs also increased the frequency of bus trips to cater to greater demand. The Chiang Mai Bus Terminal, which usually runs 50 buses to Bangkok a day, added 30 more trips yesterday and today.

Myanmar workers return

A similar scenario was also visible in Ranong province.

Thousands of Myanmar workers yesterday crossed the border back to continue their work in Thailand from Monday onwards, after having spent most of their nine-day-long Songkran break (April 9-17) in their home country.

This Songkran, a total of 60,000 Myanmar workers and accompanying people crossed the border at Ranong back to their home country, border checkpoint head Pol Colonel Supareuk Pankosol said.

In related news, police were investigating an incident that occurred on Friday night when some youngsters sprayed bullets at a rival group that was splashing water at passers-by from the side of a road along Klong Thaweewattana in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district.

The shooting at 9.30pm resulted in seven injuries, including a 14-year-old boy standing nearby.