Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

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buksida
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Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by buksida »

As massive exodus of people working in Bangkok begins leaving the capital for family reunions in upcountry homes to celebrate the Thai traditional new year or Songkran, state agencies yesterday joined together to launch a campaign to ensure the people return homes safe and sound.

Among the campaign is the “No Drink Driving” or no alcohol drinking before and during driving.

Yesterday the Ministry of Transport kicked off the anti-drink driving campaign to promote road safety as the long five-day festival holiday is to start tomorrow.

The campaign was jointly held by the Don’t Drive Drunk Foundation, and the state-run Transport Company.

Transport Minister Arkom Termpittayapaisith said the campaign is aimed at raising public awareness on road safety in a bid to reduce the number of casualties caused by driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drivers caught and charged for drink-driving is subject to one year imprisonment, a fine of 5,000- 20,000 baht, or both.

But he said in case the driver is a public transport employee, he or she will face dismissal.

Meanwhile at Mo Chit 2 bus terminal, throngs of passengers were reported today, and expected to continue until Friday April 13.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/massiv ... gn-launch/


The mayhem commences - stay safe people.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

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Based on the headline I thought a Taco Bell opened. Green cloud joke
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

Post by Gregjam »

Drove down from Chiang Mai yesterday. There was little traffic until after Nakhon Sawan and then lots. The roads would be a lot safer if the police actually patrolled them and removed the kamikaze pickup truck delivery truck drivers doing more high speed lane changes in one minute than most drivers do in an hour. We all know that nothing effective is going to be done and I was glad to get home unscathed.
The truck will now remain parked up except for brief excursions when necessary until after the holiday. Already I have seen the change as strangers negotiate the local roads having no knowledge of the Hua Hin protocols and no chance to learn them. I did find it entertaining watching a car turn right across the traffic into the railway station coffee shop parking area upsetting a helmetless Farang who could have, like the Thais did, stopped. No collision so no statistic and I wish everyone who has to venture out on the roads the best of luck.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

Post by Nereus »

As massive exodus of people working in Bangkok begins leaving the capital.......................
There must still be a lot more to go. It is now 9-00am and inbound Sukhumvit Rd in Bangkok is at its usual morning standstill. :?
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

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'Seven Dangerous Days' get under way

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... recent_box

Heavy traffic on major provincial roads was reported across the country as the annual "Seven Dangerous Days" of Songkran kicked off yesterday.

Reports from Khon Kaen said traffic on the northeastern stretch of Mittraphap Road worsened. A line of vehicles stretching more than 10 kilometres was seen from Tha Phra sub-district to the Khon Kaen municipal area around 9.30am.

Muang district chief Chatchai Uncharoen said yesterday a 24-hour rest area has been established in Tha Phra for tired drivers as a safety precaution.

"Mittraphap Road and the outer ring road around Khon Kaen city are accident black spots," he said. "We have been coordinating with local police, the army and other authorities to prevent drivers who have only drunk a modest amount of alcohol from driving, to decrease the likelihood of accidents."

Towards the South, reports from Prachuap Khiri Khan's Pran Buri district say congested roads leading to 14 of the country's southern provinces began building up around 9am.

Pran Buri is known to get extremely congested over Songkran since the district links to two main southern roads, which are Bypass Road Number 37 and Phetkasem Road Number 4.

Reports yesterday morning said roads heading South were backed up for several kilometres, while there was little to no traffic on inbound lanes heading to Bangkok.

On public transport, sleeper berths on provincial trains in Phitsanulok are now fully booked for Songkran, according to Saksingha Wongsanguansotsree, head of the province's ticketing office.

"Trains are absolutely packed with passengers. Although there are no more sleeper seats left, passengers can still book express train tickets" he said.

"It is likely that people have become aware of the dangers of taking provincial buses, following several reported accidents recently, and have opted for safer rail transport instead."

Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith had earlier instructed all modes of public transport to take all safety precautions to curb the death toll during the Seven Dangerous Days.

Adopting the usual "7-7-7" policy, referring to heightened precautions from the seven days before, during and after Songkran, Mr Arkhom also said this year's goal is to reduce deaths and injuries by at least 7%.

Last Songkran's Seven Dangerous Days from April 11-17 recorded a total of 238 deaths, 1,599 accidents and 1,844 injuries.

Police have already begun establishing checkpoints across the country to conduct alcohol and drug tests on drivers during Songkran, according to Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman Pol Col Kritsana Pattanacharoen.

He said tests will be conducted on drivers of public transport vehicles and private cars.

"The laws are clearly written with the intention of keeping everyone safe," he said. "It is extremely irresponsible to drive carelessly with the mindset that they will just get fined if caught [while intoxicated behind the wheel]."

Bangkok Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Chiraphat Bhumichitr warned that those caught drink driving in Bangkok could lose their vehicles indefinitely.

Such cases will be at the discretion of officers manning checkpoints.

"Passengers in vehicles can also be punished for possessing alcohol as it could imply everyone in the car is drinking," Pol Maj Gen Chiraphat added.

Three provincial motorways will be toll-free from now until April 18, the Department of Highways and Expressway Authority of Thailand said.

They are Motorway Number 7 (Bangkok-Chon Buri-Pattaya), Motorway Number 9 (from Bang Pa In in Ayutthaya to Bang Phli in Samut Prakan) and the Bangna Expressway (Bangna-Chon Buri).
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

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Bangkok exodus causes 10km snarl-up in Ayutthaya

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... -Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA: North and northeast-bound traffic from greater Bangkok was in a virtual standstill for some 10 kilometres near the intersections of Bangkok outer ring roads and Phahon Yothin Highway in Bang Pa-in district on Thursday morning.

Pol Col Sa-nga Teerasaranyanont, deputy commander of Ayutthaya police, said that Bangkok's eastern and western outer ring roads adjoined with the Phahon Yothin Highway and the Asian Highway in Bang Pa-in, forming a bottleneck area for the heavy traffic heading north and northeast from Bangkok.

He said that congestion on Phahon Yothin Highway (Highway 1) stretched in a northerly direction from Thammasat University in Rangsit area of Pathum Thani province to Bang Pa-in district. Northeast-bound traffic flowed slightly more easily after they entering Wang Noi district.

Traffic on Bangkok's eastern and western outer ring roads was jammed for up to 10 kilometres from Bang Pa-in.

North-bound traffic on the Asian Highway was jammed until it reached Phahon Yothin Highway. Congestion eased after passing the centre of Ayutthaya, Pol Col Sa-nga said.

Additional police officers were deployed to manage traffic, the deputy commander said. He recommended that north-bound motorists turn left at Thammasat University in Rangsit and use Highway 347 to connect with the Asian Highway in Bang Pahan district.

Motorists from Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi should drive through Suphan Buri and Chai Nat provinces or use Highway 347, Pol Col Sa-nga said.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

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And as usual, the hard shoulder being filled with idiots preventing any access for emergency vehicles should they be needed!
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok by buses, cars, trains and planes begins

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First day of Songkran claims 39 lives and 461 injuries in road accident

Thirty nine people were killed and 461 injured on the first of the “seven dangerous days” of the Songkran traditional New Year holiday travel on the country’s roads, officials said on Thursday (Apr 12).
According to the National Road Safety Center, the first day of the “seven dangerous days” from April 11-17, has now claimed 39 lives and 461 injuries in a total of 447 traffic accidents in a single day.
Drink driving remained the cause of most accidents or 40.49%, followed by speeding 26.62%.
Motorcycles are vehicles that involved in most traffic accidents or 81.96%, while most accidents happened on straight section of highways or 61.30%, secondary roads 39.15%, and rural roads 38.48%.
The centre said most accidents happened between 4.00pm– 20.00pm.
It said most dead and injured victims aged 50 and over, or 28.40%.
It said a total of 2,031 traffic checkpoints manned by 65,413 officials were set up, and 678,566 vehicles were ordered checked.
A total of 128,260 persons were booked for traffic violations, breaking down to 35,582 for not wearing helmets, and 35,090 for driving unsafe motorcycles.
Chiang Rai was recorded with highest traffic accidents (18 cases), and highest injuries (18 persons).
The provinces with highest death toll are Aumnart Charoen (2 cases), Loei (2 cases), Nakhon Si Thammarat (2 cases), Nakhon Panom (2 cases), Buri Ram (2 cases), Chon Buri (2 cases), and Phetchabun (2 cases).

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/first- ... -accident/

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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by Big Boy »

There seem to be plenty of wannabe victims on Hua Hin's roads this afternoon. All sporting Bangkok number plates.

I think my car is in retirement until Sunday now.

I've driven through 2 of these so called 'traffic checkpoints' today. The sun is too strong, the officers manning them were sitting under the shade of the roadside tents.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

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Carnage continues ...

Songkran toll: 99 dead, 1,085 injured on roads

In the first two days of the Songkran travel week, 1,026 road accidents killed 99 people and injured 1,085, with about 1,500 motorbikes and cars impounded from drunk drivers.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... d-on-roads
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by HHTel »

1st day 2017 33 deaths
1st day 2018 39 deaths

But according to Thai maths, that is a reduction of over 2%.

Stats are BS.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

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b]Songkran road deaths rise to 248 [/b]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/genera ... ise-to-248

Fifty-seven people were killed and 626 injured in 603 road accidents nationwide on Saturday, April 14, the fourth of the "seven dangerous days" during this year's Songkran Festival, raising the road toll between April 11-14 to 248 deaths and 2,557 injuries.

The figures were revealed on Sunday by Public Health Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Opas Karnkawinpong, chair of a committee for public relations on the prevention and reduction of road accidents during April 11-17.

Dr Opas said there were 603 road accidents throughout the country on April 14, killing 57 people and injuring another 626. The biggest cause of the accidents - 43.62% - was drink-driving, while another 25.70% were attributed to speeding. As usual, the majority of the accidents - 79.58% - involved motorcycles.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by oakdale160 »

And has been pointed out in earlier posts this is the number "Dead at the site of the accident" does not include later deaths at hospitals etc. A hospital friend says that deaths in the ER are common.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by Big Boy »

Actually, it was proved during the previous (Jan 1st) statistics that the figures were being adjusted daily.

I've re-read buksi's post above stating 39 dead on day 1. The latest chart now states 41.
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Re: Massive exodus from Bangkok - 7 deadly days of Songkran begin

Post by HHTel »

226 killed in 2017
248 killed in 2018

I make that a difference of 9.28% so where does this 0.4% come from? Another criticism of Thai education.
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